BEF Web Page FAQ

Browse through the Frequently Asked Questions table of contents below. Click on the category headings or the individual questions. The answers will open in a new window.

• Where does my electricity come from? How does it get to me?
• How is the generation of electricity harmful?
• How can I get more information on the energy my utility delivers to me?
• How do we address the problems created by making electricity?
• Can I get green energy delivered to my home?

• What is renewable energy or "green power"?
• Why does green power cost more?
• What is "new" renewable energy? Why does it matter?
• What are the pollutants to be concerned about?
• What is CO2e or Carbon Dioxide Equivalent?
• Where can I get more information on renewable energy?
• Where can I get more information on air pollution?
• Where can I get more information on global climate change?

• What is a Green Tag?
• Where does my money go?
• Why does the number of Green Tags I need depend on where I live?
• How much CO2 does a Green Tag offset?
• Why do different Green Tags offset different amounts of CO2?
• Where to your regional CO2 emissions figures come from?
• What does it mean for an energy source to be baseload or non-baseload?
• What is a "build margin" or a "combined margin"?
• How do these margins relate to renewable energy?
• What does Green-e energy certification mean?
• What is the difference between green power and Green Tags?
• Where does BEF's green power come from?
• How does BEF's green power get to me?
• Where does the power come from for my Green Tags?
• How can I be sure that I am getting my Green Tags?
• Can I buy green power or Green Tags from my utility?
• Will my utility service change when I buy Green Tags?

• BEF's mission and goals
• BEF reinvests "Profits" from Green Tags
• BEF purchases only "new" resources
• Green Tags are 100% new generation
• BEF retires the attributes
• BEF has innovative products
• BEF maintains the highest level of product integrity
• Green Tags can be tax deductible
• BEF certifies their claims so you know what you are getting

• How are CO2 and other emissions affected when I buy Green Tags?
• What happens to the environmental attributes I am paying for?
• Where does my money go?
• What assurances do you give me that I'm really getting what I buy?
• How do I know that this power is really green? Does the environmental community endorse it?
• What about Green-e certification?

• How much does a Green Tag cost?
• How many Green Tags can I buy?
• Can I pay monthly?
• Can I pay by check?
• What happens with my credit card information?
• Is the BEF web site secure?
• Why is this tax deductible?
• Where can I see the Terms and Conditions of our agreement?

• Home-Electricity
• Home-Heating
• Driving
• Flying-General (Emissions from a single passenger)
  • What is CO2e?
  • What is RFI?
• Event

• How do you calculate the # of Green Tags I need to buy?
• How many Green Tags do I need to buy to offset my climate impact?
• How are your average emissions for each category calculated?
• How accurate is the calculator?
• Why did you ask me for my zip code?

• What is the difference between BEF's Environmentally-Preferred Power (EPP) and BEF's Green Tag product?
• Why don't you have any projects near where I live?
• How do I apply for a BEF grant?
• How can I contact BEF for more information?