Building owners can utilize renewable energy sources without using on-site generating equipment by choosing to buy renewable power from their electric utility, or by other financial arrangements. How this can be made to work depends on the location of the building, government regulations which vary from state to state, and the electric utility companies that serve the area.In states with open electrical markets (California is one) building owners have the ability to select a provider for their electricity purchases, and choose a provider who will contract to provide all or some of their power from green sources. In states with no such choice of providers, the single utility company available may have a green power program that the customer may enroll in, guaranteeing that the utility will mix power from renewable sources into their supply.
Finally, if direct purchase of green power is not available from local utilities, customers may purchase Tradable Renewable Certificates. These certificates compensate green power producers for their higher cost of production.
While the present monetary cost for green renewable power may be greater than conventional power, the environmental costs of fossil fuel consumption is great. Furthermore, the costs of renewable energy are stable, and as the green power market matures and the costs of conventional energy continue to rise, green power products are expected to become the less expensive choice.