On September 2nd Costa Rica hit their 113th straight day of using 100% renewable electricity. A recent article in Fastcoexist celebrates this incredible feat of a country that’s considered to be less developed. In 2015 the country went 285 days of the year relying only on renewable energy. Costa Rica should be an inspriation to all. 

The Road to Running on Renewables 
Last year 99% of their energy needs were met with renewables alone. With its geographical location, the majority of their power comes from hydroelectric plants. This energy option is feasible for the country since it gets a lot of rain and has a number of mountain ranges. They’ve also branched out to use geothermal and solar energy which gives them alternative energy options. Given the unpredictability of climate change, it’s a smart move on their part. 

Costa Rica’s 5-year plan is to be carbon neutral. This can be achieved with the country’s electricity but seems ambitious since majority of their cars run on gasoline. However, the government has plans to offset carbon emissions from vehicles in other ways. The country isn’t reliant on heavy industry or manufacturing, making its carbon footprint smaller than countries which rely heavily on industry. And since Costa Rica’s population is relatively poor, they consume less of everything, making their carbon footprint even smaller. 

Renewable Energy Options 
As our global population continues to increase, the human demand for energy continues to rise. Luckily there is a push for renewable energy as an alternative to fossil fuels, which are considered a non-renewable resource. Below outlines the many forms of renewable energy used today: 

Nuclear 
Energy is created through nuclear fission in reactors which is then converted to electricity. It’s considered a more sustainable energy option but also has its precautions. The storage of nuclear reactors continues to pose a problem since humans and the surrounding environment are at risk to being exposed to harmful radiation. 

Biomass 
Living or recently dead biological matter is processed to create biofuel. Biological material used include: dead trees and branches, yard clippings, wood chips and other biodegradable wastes.

Geothermal
Energy can be pumped from shallow ground, hot water reserves, hot rock and even deeper to the Earth’s magma.  It can be generated on a small scale (residential geothermal heat pump) or on a larger scale via a large geothermal power plant. 

Hydroelectricity
Energy is generated by the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. Hydroelectric complexes are constructed for both public electricity networks and large-scale industrial purposed. 

Wind 
Wind turbines convert wind power into electricity or mechanical energy. It’s considered one of the cleanest sources of renewable energy because no air or water pollution is produced. 

Solar
Solar power harnesses the sun’s energy to produce electricity. The most widespread application is through solar panels (photovoltaic cells) which use semiconductor materials, allowing the electrons from the sun’s rays to flow through the cell and generate electricity. 

Other less commonly used forms of renewable energy include: tidal energy, wave power, radiant energy, and compressed natural gas. 

Global Status on the Use of Renewables 
There are countries other than Costa Rica which have initiatives to use more renewable energy. Germany has days where they can survive on renewable energy alone. Portugal celebrated a 4-day streak earlier this year using only renewable energy. Uruguay is 95% powered by renewables since the country heavily invested in wind and solar energy. In 2014 China was number one with the most installed wind energy capacity. And in 2015 Denmark produced 140% of their electricity needs through wind power. 

Less affluent countries seem to be on par with European countries, who are always ahead with green initiatives. But overall it seems that richer countries are less committed to renewable energy initiatives. In 2015, the United States generated only 13.4% of its energy from renewable sources. It’s unfortunate that the richest countries who use the most power seem less inclined to go 100% renewable. 

Carbon Footprints
A hard-pressed issue today’s generation faces is climate change. Our world’s energy needs and reliance on fossil fuels has increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. As individuals we should think about our own carbon footprints and take action to the larger cause. It
important to be aware of the renewable energy alternatives we have today and push for these options within our communities, cities and countries. Costa Rica’s streak of 100% renewable electricity is insprirational to the cause. They’ve actively reduced their carbon footprint, have you?