how does cleaner and greener^® work ?

Market Rewards for Emission Reductions

Market-based approaches offer the least cost solution to many problems. Leonardo Academy's Cleaner and Greener® Program promotes market-based approaches to reduce pollution and increase energy efficiency and renewable energy. Energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy projects are an important source of pollution reduction. Energy efficiency improvements reduce the use of electricity, natural gas, and other fuels; renewable energy projects provide a cleaner source of energy.

Currently, building and facility owners—such as schools, hospitals, and businesses—are generally not rewarded for the pollution reduction benefits of their energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Building and facility owners would implement more of these projects if they received additional financial incentives. The Cleaner and Greener Program promotes markets for buying and selling emission reduction credits, which provide building and facility owners with these necessary financial incentives.

Consumers that want a cleaner environment can buy and retire emission reduction credits through the Cleaner and Greener Program to offset the impacts of their energy use. This program also allows consumers to identify companies that are reducing pollution, and use their purchasing power to express their preference for buying goods and services from environmentally-friendly companies.

The Cleaner and Greener Program makes it easy for businesses, organizations, and individuals to act directly to reduce pollution, reward others for their pollution reduction actions, and lead the way to a cleaner environment. Building and facility owners who participate benefit from increased revenue generated by emission reduction credit sales in the market, tax incentives, and increased sales of goods and services through consumer preference for green companies.