There are so many different definitions, acronyms and sayings within the sustainability space that it can be hard to know exactly which term to use at which time.
I thought I would share this simple differentiator for the energy we often cite when talking about lower carbon digital.
The difference between clean, green and renewable energy
We need our energy to come from renewable, zero-emission sources that do not pollute the environment. There are some overlaps between clean, green, and renewable energy, but here are a simple set of rules you can apply when describing energy.
- Clean energy doesn’t produce carbon emissions. For example, Nuclear energy fits into this category.
- Green energy means energy sourced from nature. This can be from the sun, wind and water, such as the sea.
- Renewable energy are sources of energy that will not expire. For example, solar and wind fit into this definition.
As you can see from these definitions, there is some overlap, but I hope this helps you when needing to talk about energy and what we need to live our modern human lives with limited planetary impact.