Learn the ins and outs of green power and connect with the organizations who can help you include it in your energy procurement strategy. Then learn from Better Buildings partners who have successfully navigated green power procurement as part of their renewables projects.
Tools and Resources
Utility-Based Renewable Electricity Supply Options Overview
Better Climate Challenge
Guidance Document
Learn about utility-based renewable electricity supply options in the US energy market, including utility green power products, utility green tariffs, and competitive retail electricity markets.
Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) Overview
Better Climate Challenge
Guidance Document
Designed to help organizations learn about power purchase agreement (PPA) options, this overview document includes information on physical, virtual, and aggregate PPAs. The document also highlights case studies of successful PPA projects from three Better Buildings, Better Plants partners.
Renewable Energy Certificates Overview
Better Climate Challenge
Guidance Document
This document provides an overview of renewable energy certificates (RECs) in the U.S. renewable energy market.
A Guide to Purchasing Green Power and Renewable Energy Certificates
Options, Considerations, and Samples Projects from NREL
Guidance Document
This guide outlines ways to procure green energy from other parties, with a focus on resources for research campuses.
Selecting a Customized Green Power Approach
EPA’s Supply Options by Category
Guidance Document
This chart summarizes the various options for procuring green energy, including project-specific supply options and retail supply options.
Green Power Procurement, Supply Options, and How to Maximize Benefits
Guidance from EPA’s Green Power Partnership
Guidance Document
This guide provides information about the green power procurement process, different green power supply options, benefits of green power purchasing, as well as information on how to capture the greatest benefit from your purchase.
Renewable Energy Strategies for Real Estate
ULI Greenprint
Guidance Document
This report aims to help real estate practitioners understand the business case for renewables, the strategy for how decide on and execute both on- (owned and leased) and off-site renewable energy deals, and includes multiple global project profiles.
An Overview of EPA’s Green Power Partnership Program
Webpage
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Green Power Partnership program provides partners with a framework that includes credible usage benchmarks, market information, technical assistance, and public recognition to companies and other organizations that use green power.
Screening Tool to Identify Green Power Supply Options (XLSM File)
Tool
The Green Power Supply Options Screening Tool is designed to assist organizations in identifying possible green power supply options that are available to them based on their organizational details as well as federal, state, and utility policies. You will be prompted to download a file.
What is Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) Arbitrage?
EPA’s Fact Sheet Explaining the Goals, Process, and Impacts
Guidance Document
This guidance document describes a green power procurement strategy used by electricity consumers to simultaneously meet two objectives: 1) decrease the cost of their renewable electricity use and 2) substantiate renewable electricity use and carbon footprint reduction claims. The strategy is used by consumers installing self-financed renewable electricity projects or consumers who purchase renewable electricity directly from a renewable electricity project, such as through a power purchase agreement (PPA).
What is Community Solar?
Quick Facts and Applications from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)
Guidance Document
Learn how smaller organizations, municipalities, and residents can aggregate demand for renewable energy with this overview from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
An Overview of RE100
Strategies for Transitioning to 100% Renewable Electricity through Partnerships and Policy Engagement
Webpage
RE100 is a global corporate leadership initiative bringing together influential businesses committed to 100% renewable electricity. Led by The Climate Group in partnership with CDP, RE100’s purpose is to accelerate change towards zero-carbon grids on a global scale.
An Overview of the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance
Webpage
REBA is a membership association for large-scale energy buyers seeking to procure renewable energy across the U.S. REBA stakeholders come from across the commercial and industrial sector, non-profit organizations, as well as energy providers and service providers.
An Overview of the American Wind Energy Association
Webpage
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) is the national trade association for the U.S. wind industry. With thousands of wind industry members and wind policy advocates, AWEA promotes wind energy as a clean source of electricity for American consumers.
An Overview of the Distributed Wind Energy Association
Webpage
The Distributed Wind Energy Association (DWEA) is a collaborative group comprised of manufacturers, distributors, project developers, dealers, installers, and advocates, whose primary mission is to promote and foster all aspects of the American distributed wind energy industry. Distributed wind, commonly referred to as small and community wind, is the use of typically smaller wind turbines at homes, farms, businesses, and public facilities to off-set all or a portion of on-site energy consumption.
EPA’s Renewable Energy Procurement Samples and Templates
Guidance Document
EPA has collected example materials including templates, RFPs, contracts, and more that can help guide green power procurement efforts.
Partner Solutions and Case Studies
Better Buildings partners share their proven and replicable renewable energy solutions. Read more about each solution below.
Large-Scale Solar Procurement and Implementation
Mercy Housing
Implementation Model
Mercy Housing entered into a national partnership agreement with a third-party full-service solar provider to implement up to 5.5 MW of solar power across its national portfolio.
D.C.'s Largest Community Solar Project
WinnCompanies
Blog
This blog describes a multifamily housing provider’s community solar project based at one of its affordable properties in Washington, D.C. At the time of completion, it was the largest in the District.
Find Solutions to Other Common Renewable Energy Barriers:
