ALBANY, N.Y. - Even as more Americans look to shrink their carbon footprints, relatively few have switched to providers of electricity generated by wind, water and sun.

"Green power" programs allow consumers to purchase renewable energy, usually at a premium, without having to go through the far greater expense of erecting a windmill or installing a solar panel. The programs are widely available, yet there are estimates that fewer than 1 percent of residential consumers nationwide receive their electricity from "green power" providers.

Call it a green power disconnect.

People involved in the alternative energy industry say Americans are interested in reducing the amount of greenhouse gases they are responsible for _ witness the popularity of compact fluorescent bulbs. But they say many consumers aren't aware of programs designed to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. Or how they work. Or even if they work.