The reference guide is explicit that if you are purchasing off-site renewable energy for fuels combusted on site (Scope 1 emissions), it needs to be done via carbon offsets ("Green-e Climate or equivalent"), not RECs.
However, the Green Power Provider Summary table in form EAc4 v3.0 only lists 'Purchase Types' for electricity purchase / RECs:
"Green-e certified power provider
"Green-e accredited utility program
"Green-e accredited tradable renewable certificates
"Green-e equivalent"
(It's clear from the reference guide that "Green-e equivalent" refers to an alternate certification for renewable power, not the Green-e Climate certification for carbon offsets.)
How are we to document purchases of carbon offsets to cover Scope 1 fuel combustion?
Michael Miller
Project Architect236 thumbs up
March 7, 2011 - 4:59 pm
In case my original question was not clear enough, I am asking about an apparent problem with a data table in the LEEDOnline EAc4 credit form, not about required documentation.
Lana Malone
Director of Business Development- Green Building Team LeaderRenewable Choice Energy
120 thumbs up
March 7, 2011 - 5:14 pm
Hi Michael,
That is a great question. Looking at the LEED EB O&M 2009 submittal template for EAc4- you are correct. There is no option to insert your carbon offsets, or VERs, into the document. I would suggest using "Green-e certified Power Provider", document the total kBTU purchased combining both the RECs and Carbon Offsets, and then include in your narrative what was purchased to address your scope 1 and 2 emissions and how the calculations were done. Also, uploading your contract/documentation must be done as well.
Let me know if I can help. LMalone@renewablechoice.com
Lana Malone
Jenny Carney
Vice PresidentWSP
LEEDuser Expert
657 thumbs up
March 7, 2011 - 5:16 pm
Michael, In my experience these little form snafus pop up with regularity, and the typical process for dealing with them is to check the box near that bottom of the form that says "Special circumstances preclude documentation of credit compliance with the submittal requirements outlined in this form", and then explain the problem a bit.
In your particular case, I would choose "Green-e equivalent in the table, and then explain that you in fact have Green-e certified offsets and the table just doesn't offer an explicit option for that path. Upload a copy of the contract showing the number of offsets purchased, Green-e status, etc and you should be all set.
Another thing to pay attention to is the form version you have. If you're working with beta forms, it's worth having GBCI set you up with the latest versions so you have fewer of these form bugs to deal with.
Mark LaCroix
EVPThe CarbonNeutral Company
34 thumbs up
March 7, 2011 - 5:34 pm
Michael,
Thanks for the clarification. Our clients that have come across this issue with LEED forms have addressed the problem in one of two ways. Either they address the issue in the optional narrative section or have just written "Please refer to attached documentation: Name.pdf" in the narrative space and craft up their own form sheet following the GBCI format making sure to make all calculation methodologies visible in the write-up. Obviously, neither of these two solutions are optimal but they usually work.
Michael Miller
Project Architect236 thumbs up
March 7, 2011 - 5:40 pm
Jenny, your suggestions on documenting make sense. It is frustrating, though, to have to use 'Special Circumstances' to document standard requirements of the credit (standard, at least, for any project with fuel combustion, as opposed to being 100% electric). As I noted above, our form _is_ version 3.0.
Jenny Carney
Vice PresidentWSP
LEEDuser Expert
657 thumbs up
March 7, 2011 - 5:52 pm
Sorry, missed the bit about the form version. I agree it's frustrating, for which I recommend a dose of LEED therapy/kvetching with your fellow frustrated compadres (I could go on and on about how the NC-centric nature of the forms development process thwarts EBOM users, which is what I think is happening here. In NC, for some unknown reason, teams only have to offset electricity).
And maybe using the feedback button in LOL to point out the deficiency.
Michael Miller
Project Architect236 thumbs up
March 7, 2011 - 6:22 pm
I had already opened a 'feedback' window when I got your response. (When I first read your last sentence, I thought you were abbreviating "laugh out loud", which would probably be good advice for dealing with LEEDOnline...)
Michael Miller
Project Architect236 thumbs up
March 10, 2011 - 12:35 pm
I received a response from USGBC acknowledging that this is a problem in the form (the lack of carbon-offset options in the 'Purchase Type' drop-down). They indicated that a revised version of the form should be available in 4 to 6 weeks.
Jessica Hawley
Sustainability Consultant62 thumbs up
December 1, 2011 - 4:24 pm
We have a client that purchased VERs that are Voluntary Carbon Standard and not Green-e. Do you know what type of documentation GBCI / LEED requires to establish the equivalency? Or is it enough if the contract says that the VERs are Voluntary Carbon Standard? Any input is appreciated. Thanks!
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11475 thumbs up
December 16, 2011 - 11:04 pm
I don't hink the VCS is equivalent to Green-e, although there is definitely some overlap. I think you would need to dig in deeper to both standards to establish whether they are equivalent for this case.