A car or truck that runs mainly on something other than gas. These vehicles might run on electricity or traditional (regular) gas mixed with another type of gas made from plants.  

A type of energy made from plants and/or animal manure. 

Energy made from something that is less harmful to the environment. This might be from the sun, water, or plants. 

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 cannot get it on or near their house. People who use community solar can enjoy the benefit of clean energy, without spending a lot of money.

The amount of electricity that needs to be made to power everything that is plugged in at any one moment. 

The group in the state government that protects the environment in North Carolina. 

A car or truck that is powered primarily by electricity instead of gas. 

This is where electric vehicles are plugged in to recharge their batteries. 

Testing a house to see how well it uses electricity. This might include seeing how well the households in air or changing lightbulbs. 

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 program run by the federal government that approves energy efficient appliances like refrigerators and dishwashers. 

Something that saves energy for using later (Like a battery). 

This uses the temperature of the ground to either make electricity or heat and/or cool a house. 

The system, mostly made of wires, that connects where electricity is made to where people actually use it. 

The units used to measure how much electricity is used over a period of time. One kilowatt is 1,000 watts. 

Electricity that is made from moving water. 

A system used to rate how well buildings use energy and water. 

The type of lightbulb that uses the least amount of electricity to make the same amount of light as a normal lightbulb. It uses a special part called a diode. 

The highest amount of electricity needed to power everything that is plugged in at any one period of time. 

Electricity that is made from something that won’t run out easily, like solar, hydro, or wind. 

A type of electricity meter that is connected to the internet and gives customers more information about the way they use electricity. 

A type of technology that takes heat or light from the Sun to make electricity or heat water. There are two types of solar panels. 

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

The type of solar panel that takes sunlight and turns it into electricity. 

The part of the grid that sends electricity across long distances through wires. 

Like a typical windmill, a wind turbine has blades that the wind spins to make electricity. 

A unit to measure how much electricity is used over time. 

The company that supplies electricity 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.