FAQs about renewable energies and green energy
Electricity, heat and gas can be produced from renewable and non-renewable sources of energy. Renewable energies are also referred to as regenerative energies. Sources of renewable energy production are either inexhaustible by human standards, or are continually regenerated. Renewable energies include hydroelectric power, solar and wind energy, biomass and geothermal energy.
The term new renewable energies is used to describe solar and wind energy, biomass and geothermal energy collectively. New renewable energies are also often summarised under the heading of “future energies”. Hydroelectric power is not counted among new renewable energies, as it offers only limited potential for expansion in Switzerland.
Eco-energy is energy from renewable sources, i.e. hydroelectric power, wind and solar energy, biomass and geothermal energy, that has additionally been certified under the naturemade star quality label. Its generation is not only renewable, but also meets comprehensive environmental requirements, that is its generation takes the natural environment, i.e. the plant and animal species living around power plants, into particular account. This is especially important as the ever increasing use of renewable sources of energy (particularly hydroelectric power) impacts on habitats and thus biodiversity.