Partners

There are many organizations that CRS works with regularly to advance a clean energy agenda. They work on local, state, and national levels to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency, and develop innovative solutions to environmental issues.

 

10-Year Framework of Programmes (10YFP) on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP). The 10-year framework of programs on sustainable consumption and production patterns (10YFP) is a global framework of action to enhance international cooperation to accelerate the shift towards sustainable consumption and production (SCP) in both developed and developing countries. CRS is a member of the 10YFP Consumer Information Programme for Sustainable Consumption and Production (CI-SCP), which is administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). CI-SCP serves as a global platform to support the provision of quality information on goods and services, and it promotes the identification and implementation of the most effective strategies to engage consumers in sustainable consumption. It empowers and raises the profile of relevant policies, strategies, projects, and partnerships by building synergies and cooperation between different stakeholders to leverage resources toward mutual goals. [For more information, see the 10YFP website].
 

AASHE STARS is the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System—a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. A project of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), STARS is intended to engage and recognize the full spectrum of colleges and universities—from community colleges to research universities, and from institutions just starting their sustainability programs to long-time campus sustainability leaders. Institutions that are pursuing a STARS Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum rating earn points for purchased RECs that are Green-e Energy certified. Green‐e Energy and Green‐e Climate are referenced in points awarded for measuring and reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions (OP 1) and generating, using, and/or purchasing Clean and Renewable Energy (OP 9) in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) v2.0. [For more information, see the STARS website].
 

B Corp. Certified B Corporations meet comprehensive and transparent social and environmental standards and legally expand their corporate responsibilities to include consideration of interests of all stakeholders, including employees, suppliers, community and the environment. B Lab is the nonprofit organization that certifies and rates B Corporations through its B Ratings System. By becoming a B Corporation, companies leverage their leadership to influence the market beyond the success of their individual company, helping to build a new sector of the economy which harnesses the power of private enterprise for public benefit. Over the long term, the growing B Corporation community builds constituency for the creation of mission-aligned capital markets and tax, investment, and purchasing incentives for B Corporations. [For more information, see the B Corporation website].
 

Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). CDP motivates companies and cities to disclose their environmental impacts, giving decisionmakers the data they need to change market behavior. It holds the largest collection globally of self-reported climate change, water, and forest-risk data, and uses the power of measurement and information disclosure to improve the management of environmental risk. By leveraging market forces including shareholders, customers, and governments, CDP has incentivized thousands of companies and cities across the world’s largest economies to measure and disclose their environmental information. In addition to the issuance, tracking of properties and guarantee of the chain of custody, there can be certification schemes that will testify for the appropriate use of an instrument for a given purpose. These certification systems (or labels) can be based on appropriate tracking systems and add important assurances and quality criteria. Green-e is cited as an example of a certification system in the U.S. [For more information, see the CDP website].
 

Energy Efficient Codes Coalition (EECC). Dynamic efficiency gains in the nation’s model energy code can mean billions of dollars in utility bill savings for home and commercial building owners/occupants, more stable electricity grids, reduced reliance on energy imports and fewer greenhouse gas emissions. After uniting leaders in the policy, business, construction, utility, low-income advocacy and environmental arenas to win a 30% efficiency boost in America’s model energy code, the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), the Energy Efficient Codes Coalition is now campaigning to put future IECCs on a path of continued progress. EECC also mounts “SWAT Teams” designed to convince local and state policymakers to adopt the 2012 IECC as their building energy code. [For more information, see the EECC website].
 

The EPA Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that supports the organizational procurement of green power by offering expert advice, technical support, tools and resources. CRS is a Green Power Partner and has qualified to be part of the 100% Green Power Purchaser list, which represents those organizations that are buying green power to meet 100 percent of their U.S. organization-wide electricity use. Partnering with EPA can help your organization lower the transaction costs of buying green power, reduce its carbon footprint, and communicate its leadership to key stakeholders. Green power is electricity produced from a subset of renewable resources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, and low-impact hydro. Buying green power is one of the easiest and most effective ways to improve your organization’s environmental performance. [For more information, see the EPA Green Power Partnership website].
 

International Living Future Institute is a non-profit organization offering green building and infrastructure solutions with a mission to lead and support the transformation toward communities that are socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative. The Institute administers the Living Building Challenge, a building performance standard that puts itself forward as a philosophy, an advocacy tool, and a certification program. Version 3.0 of the standard requires Green-e Climate certification for purchased carbon offsets. [For more information, see the International Living Future Institute website].
 

Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council is a nonprofit organization with the mission to support and recognize purchasing leadership that accelerates the transition to a prosperous and sustainable future. Its Guidance for Leadership in Sustainable Purchasing recommends purchasing Green-e Energy certified renewable energy for businesses that want to reduce the environmental impact of their electricity use. The guidance is intended to help organizations of all sizes reduce the environmental, social, and economic impact of their supply chains. It includes a section on reducing the impact of electricity use, and recommends both implementing energy conservation measures and buying Green-e Energy certified renewable energy. [For more information, see the SPLC guidance].
 

The U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC is the developer of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) LEED green building certification program and the convenor of the Greenbuild International Conference & Expo. Builders wishing to earn LEED credit on new buildings and major renovations can earn points for developing on-site renewable systems or buying renewable energy that has been certified by Green-e Energy [For more information, see the USGBC website].