Canadian Green Power

Canadian green power from wind farms, small hydro facilities, and solar projects offers a breakthrough opportunity for organizations to improve their environmental performance and achieve LEED^® certification. The Canada Green Building Council^® (CAGBC) awards points toward LEED certification from Canadian green power sources. Through the green power credit, Canada LEED projects receive points toward certification from on-site renewable sources and renewable energy credits.

For the green power credit, Canada LEED projects can earn up to six points by purchasing green power to offset a building’s energy use.  Certifications for Commercial Interiors, Core and Shell projects, and New Constructions achieve two points toward certification through offsetting 100% of their LEED green power.  Existing Canada buildings can earn one to six points for offsetting different levels of their power consumption.

Electricity usage should be offset with Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) on a kWh‐to‐kWh (or Btu-to‐Btu) basis. Natural gas, steam, or other heating emissions should be converted to metric tons of CO2 equivalent and offset with direct carbon offsets or “Verified Emissions Reductions” (VERs). All LEED green power Canada projects should follow this protocol.

Renewable energy facilities generate renewable energy credits (RECs) when they produce electricity. Purchasing these credits is the widely accepted way to address the environmental footprint of electricity consumption. RECs ensure that the amount of electricity your project consumes is added to the power grid from a renewable energy facility. Whether purchased from Renewable Choice or a local utility’s green pricing program, both systems are based on the purchase of RECs. Renewable Choice offers the same product as a local utility company but at a fraction of the price and with numerous value-added services.