You’ve probably heard about renewable energy before, but do you own any? If reducing the environmental impact of electricity and being green are your passions, you might want to consider purchasing renewable energy credits (or RECs).
So, what exactly are these RECs? They allow you to claim ownership of a unit (or several units) as well as the environmental benefits these credits provide. Every time a unit of renewable energy is made, one of these credits is available for purchase, often separately from the actually unit of energy.
Now, for the really important question, why would you want to purchase these credits? If you, or your com
pany are passionate about lessening environmental impacts, but don’t want to, or are unable to switch electricity providers, buying RECs essentially cancel out the impact of the electricity (since you’re purchasing some units of energy that are renewable and are being used elsewhere). Purchasing RECs doesn’t restrict you based on where they were made, because they can be bought separately, from a different location. They also allow you to lessen your company’s carbon footprint, as well as brand itself as a green company, if that’s a goal.
The University of Rochester announced in June that they purchased enough RECs to cover the electricity used in all residential life buildings on campus. So, when do you plan to take that next green step?