Brighter Planet

What’s the difference between carbon offsets and RECs?

A REC represents the environmental attributes of electricity generation, while a carbon offset is a quantity of CO₂e reduction.

They have different units of measure:

• RECs: megawatt hour (MWh)
• Offsets: tons CO₂e

RECs can be converted into carbon offsets. For example, in an electric grid where one ton CO₂e is emitted per MWh generated, one MWh of RECs can be said to offset one ton of CO₂e.

Additional RECs vs. non-additional RECs

RECs may or may not be additional. All the RECs that are converted into carbon offsets on behalf of Brighter Planet members must be additional, as required by our Carbon Offset Policy.

• Additional RECs → additional carbon offsets (used by Brighter Planet)
• Non-additional RECs → non-additional carbon offsets (not used by Brighter Planet)

In terms of value, the key differentiator between most carbon offsets from RECs and our carbon offsets is this quality of additionality. If you buy RECs for your home or business, you are supporting renewable energy, but unless those RECs are additional, you cannot know with certainty that the sale of those RECs was essential in bringing a renewable energy project to life. With Brighter Planet carbon offsets, you can be certain.

That’s because our offsets are additional: they support renewable energy projects that could not come to fruition or maintain their operations without the revenue from selling CO₂ reductions. When you choose Brighter Planet offsets, you are providing strategic funding that is essential to bringing a new renewable energy project online.

More about RECs

Strictly speaking, a Renewable Energy Credit (or “REC”) represents the environmental attributes of one megawatthour produced by a renewable source.

Legally, RECS are the property rights to these environmental attributes.

In common speech, however, REC is often used without meaning a specific quantity. You might say “I purchased RECs” or “I purchased 200 kWh of RECs…”