I’m confused about determining the amount of RECs a project must buy when the building uses electricity and some other form of energy, say natural gas. The ref guide on pg 207 is terribly unclear. It sounds like it is suggesting that we can’t just add up the total energy use in MBtus or KWh and then purchase RECs equivalent to two year’s worth based on whatever % total we’re targeting (e.g. 25% for 1 point). Instead, it sounds like we need to buy RECs for the electricity portion (based on its % contribution to the total) and something else, which the ref guide doesn’t really make clear, for the other forms of energy, in this case natural gas (based on its % contribution to the total). Is the latter the case? And is there a different name for these credits that represent renewable natural gas, propane, fuel oil, etc.?
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Lana Malone
Director of Business Development- Green Building Team LeaderRenewable Choice Energy
120 thumbs up
March 2, 2010 - 3:59 pm
Hi Matthew!
Energy usage from natural gas, purchased steam, fuel oil, or propane should be offset with Verified Emissions Reductions, or VERs- a direct carbon offset. There was a Credit Interpretation Ruling (CIR) that was answered by the USGBC on 1/7/2009 which clarifies this information.
This ruling which applies to both LEED EB 2.0 and EB O&M states:
In regards to offsets, with the release of programs like Green-e climate to complement Green-e energy, the USGBC agrees that Green power or REC purchases or the equivalent should only be used to offset electricity use, Scope 2 emissions. Scope 1 & 3 emissions from natural gas, purchased steam, fuel oil, or propane use should use carbon offsets, verified through a program like Green-e climate or equivalent.
Please let me know if this answers your question! Please let me know if you'd like to discuss further! lmalone@renewablechoice.com