Green Energy for Renters: Renewable Options Without Solar Panels

I rent. My landlord isn't installing solar panels anytime soon. For years I assumed that meant I was stuck with whatever dirty power came through the grid.

Turns out that's wrong—at least in states with electricity choice. You've got three real options that don't require owning property or asking anyone's permission:

1. Green supply plans — Switch suppliers to one selling 100% renewable electricity. Takes 10 minutes online.
2. Community solar — Subscribe to an off-site solar farm and get bill credits. Often saves money.
3. Voluntary RECs — Buy renewable energy certificates directly to offset your usage.

Green supply plans are the easiest. Community solar usually saves the most. RECs give you the most control. None of them require a roof, a deed, or a conversation with your landlord.

In most deregulated states, renters absolutely can switch suppliers—often without landlord permission or involvement.

The key question: Is the electric account in your name? If yes, you control supplier choice. If the landlord pays the electric bill directly (common in some all-inclusive rent situations), they control the supplier.

State-by-state:
• Ohio: Tenants with accounts in their name can switch freely via PUCO Energy Choice.
• Pennsylvania: Same—your account, your choice. Landlords cannot prevent tenants from choosing suppliers.
• Massachusetts: Residential customers with individual meters can select competitive suppliers.

Master-metered buildings: If your building has one meter for multiple units (common in older apartments), the landlord typically controls the electric account. In this case, your options are limited to voluntary REC purchases or advocating for your landlord to choose green supply.

Green electricity supply plans offer the simplest path to renewable energy for renters. You switch suppliers; everything else stays the same.

What you're buying: Green supply plans purchase RECs equal to your consumption. For every kWh you use, the supplier retires a REC representing one kWh of renewable generation somewhere in the country. Your actual electrons come from the same grid as everyone else—but your payment supports renewable generators.

Cost premium: Expect 1-3¢/kWh above standard supply rates. For a typical apartment using 500 kWh/month, that's $5-15 extra monthly. Some green plans actually price competitively with or below utility default rates—renewable energy costs have dropped dramatically.

What to look for:
• Green-e certification (third-party verification)
• 100% renewable content (not partial)
• Transparent REC sourcing (wind, solar, hydro breakdown)
• Competitive pricing versus standard plans

Community solar lets renters benefit from actual solar generation without installing anything.

How it works for renters: You subscribe to a portion of a solar farm's output. When that farm generates electricity, you receive bill credits from your utility. Your physical electricity delivery doesn't change—you're essentially buying solar output at a discount and getting credited for it.

Advantages over green supply:
• Typically saves money (5-15% versus utility rates) rather than costing extra
• Supports specific, local renewable projects rather than generic RECs
• Credits appear directly on your utility bill

Considerations:
• Waitlists exist for popular programs—apply early
• Contract terms vary; some require 12-25 year commitments
• Moving within the same utility territory usually allows subscription transfer
• Moving to a different utility territory may require cancellation

Check community solar availability in your utility territory at ElectricRates.org.

Voluntary REC purchases let you offset your electricity consumption with renewable energy regardless of your supplier or living situation.

How it works: You purchase RECs directly from a REC retailer or broker. Each REC represents one MWh (1,000 kWh) of renewable generation. You're not changing your electricity supply—you're separately supporting renewable generators by purchasing their environmental attributes.

When this makes sense:
• Master-metered buildings where you can't switch suppliers
• Supplementing partial green plans to reach 100% renewable
• Situations where green supply plans aren't available
• When you want to support specific renewable sources (solar-only RECs, for example)

Costs: RECs cost $1-30 per MWh depending on source and vintage. For a typical apartment using 6,000 kWh annually (6 MWh), expect $6-180/year for 100% offsetting. Wind RECs are cheapest; solar RECs command premiums.

Where to buy: Green-e certified retailers like TerraPass, Renewable Choice Energy, and Arcadia sell RECs to individuals.

Greenwashing exists in electricity markets. Verify that your green choice actually supports renewables.

Green-e certification: The gold standard for renewable energy verification. Green-e certified products undergo annual audits confirming REC procurement, retirement, and non-double-counting. Look for the Green-e logo.

Questions to ask suppliers:
• What percentage of supply is renewable?
• Are RECs certified by Green-e or equivalent?
• What renewable sources generate the RECs (wind, solar, hydro)?
• Are RECs from recent generation or old vintage?

Red flags:
• Vague claims like "eco-friendly" without specific percentages
• No third-party certification
• Emphasis on renewable content already required by state law
• Reluctance to provide documentation

Verification resources:
The Green-e marketplace lists certified products. State PUC websites (PUCO, PA PUC, MA DPU) publish supplier information including renewable content disclosures.

If you're in a master-metered building or want your landlord to make green choices, here's how to advocate effectively.

Frame the business case: Many green electricity options cost the same or less than utility default. Community solar provides guaranteed savings. Landlords respond to financial arguments—show them the numbers.

Highlight tenant appeal: Sustainability matters to many renters, especially younger demographics. Green energy can be a marketing advantage for landlords attracting environmentally-conscious tenants.

Offer to research: Landlords are busy. Doing the legwork—identifying available programs, calculating costs, and presenting options—removes barriers to action.

Collective action: One tenant request is easy to ignore. Multiple tenants making the same request demonstrates real demand. Coordinate with neighbors to present a united front.

Be patient: Large buildings have long-term contracts and budget cycles. Even receptive landlords may need time to implement changes when existing agreements expire.