The following white paper is available as a pdf at http://carbonsolutionsgroup.com/REC_E&V.pdf
Renewable Energy Certificate Background
According to the World Resources Institute, Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) are:
“Tradable instruments which can be used to meet voluntary renewable energy targets as well as to meet compliance requirements for renewable energy policies. A REC is a certificate that indicates the generation of one megawatt hour (MWh) of electricity from an eligible source of renewable power. Each REC denotes the underlying generation source, location of generation, and year of generation (a.k.a. “vintage”).“
World Resources Institute (WRI) The Bottom Line on Renewable Energy Certificates – November 2008
Many LEED Rating Systems currently encourage the purchase of RECs as a compliance path under the “Green Power” or “On-site & Off-site Renewable Energy” credit. The intent and requirements for this credit reads as follows:
“Encourage the development and use of grid-source, renewable energy technologies on a net zero pollution basis.”
“The owner and project team have the option of purchasing Green-e accredited Tradable Renewable Certificates (RECs). In this case, the team purchases a quantity of RECs equal to [a percentage] of the predicted annual electrical consumption over a two year period (which is equivalent to [double the percentage] of predicted annual electrical consumption if all of the RECs are purchased at one time).”
USGBC LEED for New Construction Version 2.2 – pages 227-231
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