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Certified and Verified Products
Buying Green Power
Certification answers the question “Does this product meet acceptable standards for quality?” Certified products meet widely accepted consumer and environmental standards and ensure the product you buy comes from eligible renewable resources and meets product-marketing standards. Certification ensures the quality of a green power product, but also validates the product’s environmental attributes. Certification includes standards of conduct for ethical behavior, including marketing claims by suppliers, and requires regular reporting to monitor these claims.
Verification answers the question “How do I know I’m getting what I pay for?” Third-party certification usually carries a requirement for independent verification to document that the amount of green power generated equals the amount of green power sold to customers. Third-party independent auditors apply the verification process to retail and wholesale electricity providers. The audit verifies that the green power behind the product was produced and placed on the utility grid and helps verify the product’s environmental benefit. Verification serves as a form of buyer protection against deception or fraud.
Why should I buy certified and verified products?
Green power products certified by an independent third party offer consumers a higher level of certainty that they are getting what they pay for. In meeting specific environmental and customer protection guidelines adopted by the certifying organization, your organization can be sure that your purchase meets nationally accepted standards for resource and product quality.
Who certifies green power products?
Currently, two organizations certify green power products: the Center for Resource Solutions’ Green-e program 
and Environmental Resources Trust, Inc. These organizations have programs in place that not only certify green power products, but also independently verify the products on an annual basis.
Partnership Perspective
While EPA currently does not require Green Power Partners to purchase certified products, we strongly encourage organizations to purchase green power products that are certified by an independent third party as a matter of best practice. Certification helps ensure the quality of green power products, and also helps build consumer confidence in the marketplace.