RECs and Offsets

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cobrien@american.edu's picture
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AASHE Member
Joined: Dec 23 2008

Does anyone have experience working with a third party who helps select Offsets and/or RECs that conform to the ACUPCC Guidelines?

We are considering a sizable purchase of both RECs and Offsets, the former to match our consumption of electricity and the latter for our remaining emissions, most of which come from travel and commuting.

I have read the ACUPCC Carbon Offsets Guidelines and I am fairly familair with the broad issues involved in selecting high quality RECs and Offsets. But even so, the prospect of selecting the best offsets, in particular, is still extraordinarily complex.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

The American Dream Is Green,
Chris O'Brien
American University

niles@aashe.org's picture
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StaffAASHE Member
Joined: Dec 16 2008
Hi Chris,
Thanks for this post; it is a really good question! I think your concerns are shared by many others - the advice that I hear most often is to approach carbon offsets and RECs with caution and only purchase them in the framework of a comprehensive carbon management strategy. One really helpful source of information is contained in the recently released, "Accelerating Campus Climate Initiatives: Breaking Through Barriers" which was released by the Rocky Mountain Institute and AASHE. Chapter 5 "Carbon Offsets and Associate Opportunities" in particularly is helpful (starts on page 86). In this chapter, examples are given from other campuses and steps are given to help guide campuses through the process of exploring carbon credit options.
Included in this document is information related to the research Duke University has done regarding offsets. I have included information below - Duke University has published a comprehensive study to establish criteria for the development of an offset portfolio. The report serves as an offset decision-making model - The Role of Offsets in Meeting Duke University's Commitment to 'Climate Neutrality': A Feasibility Study"
 
A few additional resources that may be helpful include:
Clean Air - Cool Planet's,A Consumer's Guide to Retail Carbon Offsets (2006)
 
 
 

 

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