Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
1-2011
Publisher
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
First page number:
i-vii, 1
Last page number:
35
Abstract
With organizations and individuals increasingly interested in accounting for their carbon emissions, greater attention is being placed on how to account for the benefits of various carbon mitigation actions available to consumers and businesses. Generally, organizations can address their own carbon emissions through energy efficiency, fuel switching, on-site renewable energy systems, renewable energy purchased from utilities or in the form of renewable energy certificates (RECs), and carbon offsets. This paper explores the role of green power and carbon offsets in carbon footprinting and the distinctions between the two products. It reviews how leading greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting programs treat green power purchases and discusses key issues regarding how to account for the carbon benefits of renewable energy. It also discusses potential double counting if renewable energy generation is used in multiple markets.
Disciplines
Environmental Policy | International Economics | Oil, Gas, and Energy | Sustainability
Language
English
Keywords
Carbon dioxide; Carbon footprinting; Carbon offsetting; Carbon offsets; Clean energy industries; Climate registry; Emissions; EPA; GHG; Green power; Greenhouse gases; REC; Renewable energy: Renewable energy certificates; Renewable energy sources
Repository Citation
Bird, L.,
Sumner, J.
(2011).
Using renewable energy purchases to achieve institutional carbon goals: A review of current practices and considerations.
i-vii, 1-35.
Available at:
https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/renew_pubs/61
Included in
Environmental Policy Commons, International Economics Commons, Oil, Gas, and Energy Commons, Sustainability Commons