Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)The easiest way to go green

Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), also called Renewable Energy Credits, Green Tags, or Tradable Renewable Certificates (TRCs) represent all of the environmental, social and other positive attributes of power produced from renewable energy. RECs are convenient because they provide an easy alternate to transmitting renewable energy directly to you and they provide a quick and easy way of owning the benefits of renewable power.


When renewable energy is generated, two monetized components are created — the first component is the electricity and the second component is the RECs (for every 1 MWh [1000 kWh] of electricity generated, a REC is produced). The RECs can then be unbundled and sold separately from the electricity. When the RECs are later purchased and combined with the purchaser's conventional power, the combination is equivalent to buying power directly from a renewable generator. A diagram of this process is shown below.


3 Phases Renewables purchases and sells Green-e certified RECs. Our REC program follows strict auditable procedures so that you can be assured that your REC purchase will legitimately further your environmental initiatives and programs and that the RECs will not be double-counted.


Contact us for more information about how RECs can work for you.

RECs for Builders/Architects:

3 Phases Renewables offers Green-e Energy Certified® Renewable Energy Certificates that are eligible to earn your building LEED points.

New Construction: According to the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC's) LEED v3 for New Construction and Major Renovations, buildings can earn up to 2 LEED points by purchasing Green-e certified renewable energy certificates. Under the Energy and Atmosphere section, EA Credit 6, it states that by engaging in "at least a 2-year renewable energy contract to provide at least 35% of the building's electricity from renewable sources", as defined by Green-e product certification, buildings can earn LEED points. Contact 3 Phases Renewables to get your quote for Green-e Energy Certified® RECs today.

Existing Buildings: The USGBC also publishes LEED v3 for 'Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance'. In this document, under EA Credit 4, it states that existing buildings can earn up to 6 LEED points by purchasing renewable energy certificates. The table below is taken directly from this USGBC document.

On-site Renewable Energy   Off-site Renewable Energy Certificates Points
3% or 25% 1
4.5% or 37.5% 2
6% or 50% 3
7.5% or 62.5% 4
9% or 75% 5
12% or 100% 6

Contact us to get a quote for your REC needs or to learn more about on-site renewable energy. Regardless of your project type, 3 Phases Renewables offers solutions. In order for us to provide you with a REC quote, we will need a minimum of the following information:

  • Your annual baseline electricity consumption (or an estimate)
  • The renewable goal that your project would like to achieve (e.g. 70% for 2 years, etc.)
  • The vintage of the RECs you require (in what year will the RECs be purchased)

RECs for Businesses

Our society is becoming more aware of environmental issues; development of a corporate green position generates appeal to the growing niche of environmentally minded consumers. When coupled with your conventional power, renewable energy certificates are equivalent to using renewable energy, thus they allow you to:

  • Differentiate your company with an eco-friendly stance
  • Enhance your corporate image and attract green-minded customers
  • Gain recognition of your environmental choices
  • Be recognized by the EPA's Green Power Partnership
  • Prepare for future clean-energy regulations
  • Offset your carbon emissions without leaving your utility

3 Phases Renewables offers Green-e certified RECs and we follow strict auditable procedures so that you can be assured that your REC purchase will legitimately further your environmental initiatives and programs and that the RECs will not be double-counted.

If you are interested in RECs for your business, contact us to learn more.

RECs for Cities and Counties

Due to growing public support, federal and state requirements for renewable energy usage are increasing. Local government is also able to impact the community through the purchase of renewable energy for its residents. 3 Phases Renewables offers both unbundled Green-e Energy Certified RECs and state audited RECs bundled with green power.

RECs may be used to implement green energy programs for residents or to green your city/county buildings. The City of Burbank's Green Energy Program is a great example of how RECs can be used to directly offer residents green energy. Alternatively, purchasing RECs to offset emissions from your city/county buildings allows you to:

  • Gain recognition as an environmentally friendly area
  • Attract green-minded businesses and residents
  • Prepare for future clean-energy regulations
  • Choose the type of renewable power that best promotes your green position.

3 Phases Renewables has worked with numerous cities and counties to achieve their green energy goals and we will be happy to work with you. Contact us to learn how we can help.

RECs for Residents

We can all do more to help the environment. By purchasing green power, you are reducing your impact on the environment and helping our country become more energy independent. The purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates allows you to eliminate the emissions from conventional power and own all of the social and environmental attributes associated with clean energy. By purchasing RECs, you are providing a necessary revenue stream to renewable energy generation facilities and thus helping to promote the development of new facilities. For each unit of clean energy that we add to the grid, we remove the need for polluting energy sources. For a more detailed description on how RECs work, please visit our REC Overview page.

Here are some of the benefits of purchasing RECS:

  • Switch to renewable energy without leaving your utility
  • Eliminate the greenhouse gases produced by your power consumption
  • Promote the development of new renewable energy generation
  • Help our country become more energy independent
  • Reduce your carbon footprint
  • Do your part to help protect the environment

RECs for Organizations

Organizations can do their part to help the environment. By purchasing green power, your organization is reducing your impact on the environment and helping our country become more energy independent. The purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates allows your organization to eliminate the emissions from conventional power and own all of the social and environmental attributes associated with clean energy. By purchasing RECs, you are providing a necessary revenue stream to renewable energy generation facilities and thus helping to promote the development of new facilities. For each unit of clean energy that we add to the grid, we remove the need for polluting energy sources. For a more detailed description on how RECs work, please visit our REC Overview page.

Here are some of the benefits of purchasing RECS:

  • Offset your carbon emissions without leaving your utility
  • Differentiate your organization with an eco-friendly stance
  • Eliminate the greenhouse gases produced by your power consumption
  • Promote the development of new renewable energy generation
  • Help our country become more energy independent
  • Prepare for future clean-energy regulations