Where’s the Carbon Footprint?

RECs

High Performing Buildings magazine case studies will soon include metrics to document a facility's carbon dioxide emissions and measures to reduce or counter its emissions. This article explains the methodology that will be used to determine a carbon footprint and covers how building design, on-site renewable energy, renewable energy credits (RECs) and carbon offsets are used to address emissions. The authors, members of HPB magazine's editorial advisory board, note that a benefit of RECs is that they are not location specific, but question whether they are equivalent to on-site renewables.