These vehicles run on a fuel other than traditional gas. AFV’s include Flex Fuel, Hybrid, and Electric Vehicles.

A renewable energy source that comes from recently living plants, wood, crops, manure, and even garbage.

A combination of energy from renewable, zero-emissions sources, and energy saved through energy efficiency

A group of solar panels whose energy is shared by a nearby community. Community solar works well for groups of people who want to share solar, but can’t/don’t’ want to put it on their roof. They all can enjoy the benefit of clean energy, without owning or buying it.

The maximum amount of energy that is being consumed at a given time.

The national agency in charge of the protection of North Carolina’s environmental resources.

A vehicle that runs partially on electricity (battery storage) and partially on gas.

A gas pump, but for electric vehicles (EVs). A charting station gets its electricity from the grid, which it delivers to a vehicle’s battery once the vehicle is plugged in. EV owners can charge their vehicle in their garage overnight. Electric vehicle charging stations can also be found outside workplaces, grocery stores, hotels and more.

Using less energy to perform the same tasks. This also means the products and tasks that use less energy.

Using less energy to do the same thing. For example, an energy efficient lightbulb uses less energy to make the same amount of light. 

A certification given to a product or appliance that show it meets strict government standards for energy efficiency. These products save more energy than traditional models and are given the ENERGY STAR® name.

Tools and technologies to store energy for later use.

Heat moving in the ground to create heating and cooling electricity in homes or buildings.

Also known as “energy grid” or “smart grid”, is the system that distributes electric energy from where it is made (solar panel or wind turbine) to where it is being used (home or business). The poles, power lines, and transmission lines that you see along the road are all part of the grid.

1,000 watts of electricity, a watt is one unit of electrical power measured as the rate of energy use.

Capturing the energy that comes from moving water and waves and making it into electricity. Also known as “water or hydro energy”

LEED stands for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” and is globally recognized certification for the sustainable design of a building, it’s water and energy conservation, reduced waste, and environmental friendliness.

LED stands for “light emitting diode”. LED lighting products produce light approximately 90% more efficiently than regular (incandescent) light bulbs.

The time of day when the most energy is being used from the grid.

Energy from natural sources that can never be depleted overtime.

A device that measures how much energy is being used. Usually it is placed outside your home to track your energy use for your energy bill.

A solar panel captures sunlight to produce electricity. There are two ways sunlight is captured: solar thermal panels and solar photovoltaic (PV) panels.

The type of solar panel that captures heat from the Sun to heat water used in buildings.

The type of solar panel that takes sunlight and turns it into electricity through a chemical reaction.

The way electric power is delivered to customers. Transmission lines carry electricity over long distances from a generation point to an electrical substation to customer.

Like a typical windmill, a wind turbine has blades that the wind spins. When the wind spins the blades it captures the winds energy to produce electricity.

A unit of electrical power measured as the rate of energy use.

The company that supplies electricity or water to homes and businesses. They usually generate electricity and also run the system of poles and wires that move electricity from where it is made to where it gets used. A utility is also known as an energy company.