If you already associate Costa Rica with renewable energy, you won’t be surprised to know that just this year, the whole country went 300 days using only renewable energy, setting a new record. After previously setting a record for the most consecutive days using solely renewable energy in 2015, Costa Rica outdid themselves and beat themselves at their own game. This is the fourth year in a row that the country has progressed past using 98% of clean energy, firmly reiterating their dedication to taking advantage of renewable energy resources. In a world where moving towards renewable energy is a goal for many countries, going almost an entire year using only renewable energy sources is a huge feat. Of course, it should be noted that those 300 days refers strictly to electricity usage. The figures for gas-powered vehicles and heat were not included, but this is still a major accomplishment. As a country, Costa Rica utilises clean energy from various resources, namely hydropower clocking in at 78% of their renewable energy sector. Wind and geothermal energy make up 10% of Costa Rica’s renewable energy, respectively, and biomass and solar energy clock in at 1% each. Although Costa Rica has been making great strides in transitioning the country towards renewable energy resources, it is important to note that oil still does play a large role in their energy consumption. Still, Costa Rica is truly dedicated to increasing their green and sustainable energy practices. For example, earlier in 2018, they became the first country to ban fossil fuels and are on a mission to become the first decarbonised country under their new president, Carlos Alvarado. It is his hope that Costa Rica will be able to totally end fossil fuel usage by 2021, which will also be the year of their bicentennial celebration. Until then, Costa Rica will continue to create renewable energy plants across the country, including wind turbine plants, hydroelectric plants, and solar plants, all of which will create additional jobs. As more plants are being built, the distribution of renewable energy sources will likely spread more evenly, as well. Considering that Costa Rica a country prone to hurricanes and tropical storms thanks to its location off the Caribbean Sea, being able to harness available renewable energy resources is thought to be especially important in the event of natural disasters. Hurricanes, volcanoes, and earthquakes all run the risk of citizens losing power, but by using more renewable energy rather than relying on older methods, Costa Rica hopes to avoid major power outages in the future. Originally posted at BlairSergeant.net: http://blairsergeant.net/new-renewable-energy-record-in-costa-rica/