Green-e Climate Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is an offset? Where is my money going when I buy a Green-e Climate Certified offset?

A: An offset is a product that represents the real reduction of a specific amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. By purchasing this product, the consumer alone has the right to all associated claims about the environmental benefits it embodies. Green-e Climate Certified offsets are real, additional GHG emission reductions (an environmental commodity), not a donation or investment in a future project. By purchasing offsets, consumers stimulate market demand for GHG emission reduction projects, leading to more projects that can help mitigate the effect of climate change.

Q: How can I become Certified?

A: For sellers of a GHG emission reduction product seeking certification, the first step is to read How to Qualify and follow the How to Qualify to Offer a Green-e Climate Certified Product. If you have any questions during the process, email climate [at] green-e [dot] org or call 415-561-2100 for more information.

Q: I have a project (forestry, energy efficiency, renewable energy, etc). Can you certify it?

A: Green-e Climate will certify GHG emission reduction products (offsets). One requirement for sellers of offsets is that the GHG emission reductions are sourced from projects certified by an Endorsed Program. If you are a project developer seeking certification, you should contact one of our Endorsed Programs.

For grid-connected renewable energy projects located in the U.S., Green-e Climate can offer project certification under the Green-e Climate Protocol for Renewable Energy

Q:  Does the standard include requirements on the calculation methodology of emission "footprints"?

A: The standard does not include requirements for emissions calculations methodologies at present. However, sellers of Certified Products that host a carbon calculator must make their inputs available to the public, including emission factors, assumptions, and methodologies used to calculate emissions from specific activities. They also must use internationally accepted numbers from government agencies such as the U.S. EPA, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the World Resources Institute, the GHG Protocol Initiative, or similar initiatives.

Q:  What is additionality?

A: See the definition in the Green-e Glossary.

Q:  Can renewable energy be used as an offset?

A: Yes. The generation of renewable energy backs down conventional electricity generation and reduces the need for new fossil-fueled power plants, which in turn leads to reduced GHG emissions. If a renewable energy project meets stringent additionality criteria, it can be used to generate offsets. As long as there is no government policy that allocates the ownership of GHG reductions created by renewable energy to fossil-fueled power plants (such as a cap-and-trade scheme that allows capped fossil-fueled power plants to receive credit for reductions), then renewable energy provides a real means to effectively address climate change. Most of the major, internationally accepted offset programs, including all of the Green-e Climate Endorsed Programs, allow renewable energy facilities as sources for offsets.

Q: What is the difference between Green-e Energy and Green-e Climate?

A: Green-e Energy is a certification program for the sale of renewable energy on the voluntary market. Products certified by Green-e Energy comprise either renewable electricity or renewable energy certificates, both denominated in megawatt hours (MWhs).

Green-e Climate is a certification program for the sale of GHG emission reductions (also called offsets) that are sold as tons (or pounds) of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Q: How can I reduce my carbon footprint?

A: There are many websites that can help you assess your current carbon footprint from energy use, including calculators at the World Resources Institute and the U.S. EPA. An important first step to reducing your carbon footprint is to reduce your energy use as much as possible. After you have reduced what you can, the second step is to buy renewable energy, or renewable energy certificates to match your electricity use. For everything else that you cannot reduce, you can find Green-e Climate Certified Offsets.

Q: What is the proposed geographical scope of Green-e Climate?

A: Green-e Climate is intended to be an international standard. However, CRS currently requires Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) trained in U.S. audit procedures to perform the verification audit of sellers offering Green-e Climate certified products. Green-e Climate staff is working with offset sellers outside of the U.S. to develop international audit procedures.

Q: Are all greenhouse gas emission reductions eligible under Green-e Climate, or only carbon dioxide?

A: Green-e Climate is primarily aimed at emission reductions from the six primary greenhouse gases—carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride (CO2, N2O, CH4, HFCs, PFCs and SF6) that are included under the Kyoto Protocol.

Q: Is it possible to sell GHG reductions from future projects (i.e. emission reductions that are not yet verified) as part of this program?

A: Green-e Climate only verifies and certifies offsets comprising GHG emission reductions already verified and certified according to an Endorsed Program's protocols. Currently none of the Endorsed Programs have methodologies for future projects.

Q: Can a particular offset seller choose to sell a mixture of certified and non-certified products?

A: Yes. This is not a program that certifies offset sellers. Green-e and CRS want to provide a service that assists consumers in making informed choices, not to make or dictate those choices for them.