NonProfit Center Uses Only Green Energy

Third Sector New England is now purchasing more than 1.5 million kilowatt-hours (kWh), or 100 percent, of the NonProfit Center’s annual power needs with a utility green power product from PEPCO Energy.

TSNE, the nonprofit developer of the center, is working in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership – and is the only nonprofit in Massachusetts to be recognized in the Partnership’s Leadership Club.

Partnership for Long-term Sustainability

According to Jonathan Spack, executive director of Third Sector New England, powering the center with only green energy demonstrates a proactive choice and a leading commitment to switch away from traditional sources of electricity generation and support cleaner renewable energy alternatives. He considers being part of the Partnership’s Leadership Club a huge honor.

Jackie Cefola, program coordinator for the NonProfit Center, next to LEED plaque on the center's front exterior

Program Coordinator Cefola

Jackie Cefola, program coordinator at the NonProfit Center explains that purchasing renewable energy helps the center meet environmental goals. By purchasing through a long-term contract, TSNE is also making a sound financial decision. She believes that if TSNE can work to be one of four organizations in Massachusetts to be in the Green Power Partnership’s Leadership Club, other nonprofits can as well.

Providing Leadership for Our Sector

Membership in the Leadership Club is a distinction given to organizations that have significantly exceeded EPA’s minimum purchase requirements. Green Power Leadership Club members must purchase 10 times the partnership’s minimum requirement organization-wide.

Green power is generated from environmentally-preferable, renewable sources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact hydro. These sources generate electricity with a net zero increase in carbon dioxide emissions, offering a superior environmental profile compared to traditional power generation.

Green power purchases support the development of new technologies to promote greater use of renewable energy nationwide.

According to the EPA, TSNE’s green power purchase of more than 1.5 million kWh is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of nearly 180 passenger vehicles per year, or is the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power nearly 130 average American homes annually.

TSNE’s NonProfit Center also received the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification and has been awarded Energy Star designation.

About EPA’s Green Power Partnership

The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that encourages organizations to buy green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with purchased electricity use. The Partnership currently has hundreds of partner organizations voluntarily purchasing billions of kilowatt-hours of green power annually.

Partners include a wide variety of leading organizations such as Fortune 500 companies; small and medium sized businesses; local, state and federal governments; nonprofit organizations; and colleges and universities. For additional information, please visit the Green Power Partnership section of the EPA website.