Carbon Credits/Renewable Energy Credits

Inside communications is proud to partner with Renewable Choice Energy to purchases renewable energy credits to offset the pollution caused by electricity generation to power ICI’s 14,000 s.f. corporate headquarters located in Boulder, CO. Carbon credits are purchased to offset the corporate greenhouse gas pollution and support clean energy development.

What is a carbon offset?
A carbon offset ensures that a metric ton of carbon dioxide (CO2), or its equivalent in other greenhouse gases (GHGs), is removed from the atmosphere or prevented from entering it.

Why would an organization purchase carbon offsets?
Carbon offsets provide a means to become carbon neutral by offsetting GHG emissions, which account for a large portion of many environmental footprints.

What is the appropriate strategy for using carbon offsets and renewable energy credits (RECs)?
RECs are the industry standard for offsetting the pollution caused by electricity generation. A REC purchase ensures the generation of a specific amount of renewable energy to offset fossil fuel generation and helps create a carbon-free power system.

Carbon offsets address direct emissions and those indirect emissions not associated with the consumption of purchased electricity, while fueling the demand for increased voluntary mitigation efforts.

Renewable Choice RECs – Certification and Verification
Renewable Choice delivers high quality renewable energy credits (RECs) that satisfy the most stringent industry standards and are Green-e certified, the leading protocol in the industry and guaranteed to:

1. Originate from 100% new renewable facilities.
   Acceptable resources include wind energy, solar electric, geothermal, and certain forms of hydropower and biomass. The term “new” is defined to include any eligible renewable facility beginning operation or repowered after January 1, 1997.
2. Be Produced in the stated calendar year.
   RECs must be generated in the calendar year in which the product is sold, the first three months of the following calendar year or the last six months of the prior calendar year.
3. Go beyond existing government mandates.
   RECs must be comprised of eligible renewable generation over and above anything required by state or federal regulatory requirements.
4. Pass a process audit by and independent certified public accounting firm.
   The process audit verifies quantity, eligibility, accuracy and legitimacy of any and all Green-e REC products and associated marketing claims.