Climate Change 101

The Basics

Your business may have heard a lot of talk about climate change, carbon footprint and questions about what you are doing to reduce your company’s impacts. Those questions are increasingly coming from customers, investors, employees and suppliers.

Where do you begin? You can start by requesting your free carbon footprint report.

Climate change results from that extra carbon that has been locked away for millions of years in the form of oil, gas and coal from ancient plants and animals, which we release to the atmosphere when it is burned. As a result, we release more heat trapping gases than the planet can naturally absorb.

You can begin to reduce your carbon footprint by first understanding where it comes from and measure it.

3 Measurable Categories of Emissions
Businesses Generate

Scope 1

Direct emissions from fossil fuel being combusted for business i.e., heating, processing and transportation.

Scope 2

Indirect emissions from purchased electricity for business.

scope 3

Indirect emissions from supply/ value chain outside of business.

CPV Retail can measure your Scope 2 emissions related to the electricity that we currently deliver to your business. Contact our experts at CPV Retail to discuss the various options to “green” your electricity purchases by incorporating more renewable energy into your electricity purchases and help reduce your carbon footprint.

How Do Organizations Purchase Renewable Electricity Today?

Grid Direct

Purchase directly from existing Utility or Retail providers. These bundled options include the electricity and environmental benefits (CO2 reductions.)

Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)

Customers can buy the unbundled environmental benefits (CO2 reductions) only from a renewable project; these certificates are sold in 1 MWh units of renewable production. These certificates must be verified by a third party i.e., Green-e certified and retired by the certificate holder to receive credit.

On-site Renewable Development

Owner financed or developed by a third party via a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA.)

Power Purchase Agreement (PPA): Third party financed, developed and owned project. Building owner signs long term agreement to purchase renewable energy off of the system.

Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (vPPA): Third party financed, developed and owned projects remote from off takers location and purchaser commits to buying green power via a long-term contract.

Glossary of Terms

CO2e: Carbon dioxide equivalent. There are other gases responsible for warming like methane and nitrous oxide and their Global Warming Potential (GWP) is converted and expressed in CO2e

ESG: Environment, Social and Governance: These are broad commitments companies are adopting to address the direct and indirect impacts of operating an enterprise

GHG: Greenhouse Gas typically measured in lbs., Kg or MT metric tons

GHG Inventory: Accounting for business Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions and measured in Metric Tons of CO2e

GHG Protocol: Accounting standards for reporting carbon emissions established by the World Resources Institute (WRI)

GWP: Global Warming Potential other gases and emissions i.e., refrigerants and methane that can be greater contributors to warming

Kilowatt Hour (kWh): Measured in 1,000 Watts of electricity either produced or consumed per hour

Megawatt Hour (MWh): Measured in 1,000 Kilowatts kWh of electricity either produced or consumed per hour

Renewable Energy: Energy produced from solar, wind or low impact hydro generation

REC (Renewable Energy Certificate): Represents 1 MWh of renewable energy delivered to the grid from a renewable energy source

Scope 1: Direct emissions from fossil fuel being combusted for business i.e., heating, processing and transportation

Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased electricity for business and the emissions are associated with the fuel mix associated i.e coal, natural gas, nuclear etc. for that utility

Scope 3: Indirect emissions from supply/ value chain outside of business

UN SDGs: UN Sustainable Development Goals: 17 Goals set by the United Nations encouraging enterprises to adopt sustainable business practices in the decade of action from 2020-2030.

Additional Resources

US EPA Guide to Purchasing Green Power

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NREL National Renewable Energy Lab

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Get in Touch with Us

Looking to make the switch to renewable energy? Have questions about our services? We are always ready to assist. Reach out to us for any questions or to learn more about our energy solutions.