Standards and Certification – A must in the Green World

Andrew Nourafshan

Progam Analyst

Center for Resource Solutions

Green Trade Network Summit

September 19th, 2008

Presentation Overview

• Who is the Center for Resource Solutions?

• The Green-e Certification Programs

• Why is certification important?

• What is important in certification?

Center for Resource Solutions (CRS)

A nonprofit organization working nationally and internationally to fight climate change by building policies and consumer-protection mechanisms in renewable energy, greenhouse gas reductions, and energy efficiency.

Developed and manage three certification programs for environmental markets:

Green-e Energy: Launched in 1997 to provide consumer protection for the green power markets in North America.Green-e Marketplace: Launched in 2005 to verify green power claims made by companies purchasing renewable energy for their operations.Green-e Climate: Launched in 2008 to provide consumer protection for the carbon offset market..

Green-e Program Governance• Independent Governance Board

– Natural Resources Defense Council– Union of Concerned Scientists– National Renewable Energy Laboratory – WWF– Regulatory Assistance Project, and– Several other environmental and industry leaders.

• All standards and policies developed through open stakeholder consultations

• Associate Member of the International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labeling (ISEAL) Alliance

• Nation’s leading consumer protection program for renewable energy products

• Established 1997• Covers all 50 states and Canada• Certification of three product types:

– Renewable energy certificates (RECs)

– Renewable electricity sold in competitive retail and wholesale markets

– Utility green pricing programs

What Functions Does Green-e Energy Provide?

• Green-e Energy Standard defines eligible renewable electricity products

• Verification ensures that there is clear ownership and no double counting of renewable energy attributes

• Code of Conduct requires disclosures and monitors sellers

Example Product Content Label

This product matches 100% of your estimated electricity usage. The product will be made up of the

following new renewable resources averaged annually.

Green-e Energy Certified New Renewables in [PRODUCT]

Generation Location

Solar 10% CA

Wind 90% OR

Total Green-e Energy Certified Renewables

100%

For specific information about this electricity product, please

contact [Company Name], [phone], [Web site].

Green-e Energy certifies that [Product Name] meets the

minimum environmental and consumer protection

standards established by the non-profit Center for Resource

Solutions. For more information on Green-e Energy certification

requirements, call 1-888-63-GREEN or log on to www.green-e.org.

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1998

1999

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2004

2005

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Year

Green-e Energy Certified Sales by Product Type, 1998-2007

RECs Green Pricing Competitive Electricity

• Program that enables businesses and organizations to use the Green-e certification logo

• Businesses purchasing Green-e Energy certified renewable energy use the logo to convey their renewable energy commitment to stakeholders

The Green-e Logo next to claims adds validity, credibility and independent verification - consumers want this assurance.

• Consumer protection program for greenhouse gas emission reductions (aka “offsets”)

• Certifies “offset” products sold at retail level

• Program launched in 2008 after 2 year collaborative development process

• Requires GHG reductions are independently certified to be real, verified, permanent, enforceable and additional

• Verifies that consumers get what they pay for -- supply and sales audit

• Ensures consumers are given full and accurate product disclosures

What Functions Does Green-e Climate Provide?

Example Product Content Label

Why is certification important?

• “Green” can be subjective, mean many things

• Consumers seek ratings, simplification from those they trust

• Consumer Reports

• Morningstar

• In environmental markets, where benefits are often intangible and unseen, enhances consumer confidence and ensures environmental integrity

What is important in a certification?

• Open stakeholder consultation

• Consensus-based decisions

• Transparency

• Independence and Integrity

• Expertise

• Periodic review/mechanisms to adapt

ContactAndrew Nourafshan

Program Analyst

Center for Resource Solutions

415-561-2100

andrew@resource-solutions.org