Recognised by international standards

Internationally recognised tool to promote the energy transition

International standards such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and organisations such as CDP and RE100 explicitly encourage consumers to take leadership by using renewable energy and doing more. Extra steps drive the worldwide energy transition and you can too by buying energy with the EKOenergy label.

EKOenergy-labelled electricity fits perfectly with companies and organisations that follow other sustainability standards and rating systems: e.g. the Global Reporting Initiative, Science Based Targets, the Covenant of Mayors, etc.

In 2020, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) showcased how the EKOenergy label empowers energy consumers in their SDG Good Practices: A compilation of success stories and lessons learned in SDG implementation publication. EKOenergy is featured on pages 46, 50-52.

Standards and organisations referring to EKOenergy

Nordic Ecolabel & EU Ecolabel

The Nordic Swan Ecolabel was established in 1989 by the Nordic Council of Ministers as a voluntary ecolabelling scheme for the countries Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Nordic Swan Ecolabel covers 59 product groups, including more than 200 product types.

Several of their recently approved criteria texts give extra points for the use of EKOenergy-labelled electricity, such as the criteria for Printing Companies and Printed Matter and the criteria for Food Services and Conference Facilities. 

Some criteria texts of the EU Ecolabel also give points for the use of ecolabelled energy, and in most European countries EKOenergy is the only available ecolabel. The European Ecolabel for Tourist Accommodation Services (i.e. hotels, hostels,…) gives extra points if the electricity contract is ecolabelled by an independent entity and if the ecolabel promotes the investment in new renewable power capacity. EKOenergy fulfils these requirements.

Green Key

Green Key, a prestigious, international ecolabel for tourism establishments, recommends choosing ecolabelled electricity and gives extra points to hotels and hostels for doing so. Green Key explicitly mentions EKOenergy as an ecolabel that brings additional value to electricity contracts: “If available, the establishment is encouraged to consider purchasing ecolabelled electricity. This means that the electricity is not only renewable, but the ecolabelling also ensures that it is third-party verified and fulfils additional sustainability criteria, e.g. taking biodiversity into account, financing projects that combat electricity poverty, new clean electricity projects, etc. Examples of electricity eco-labels are EKOenergy, Green-e, Bra Miljöval, etc.”

Greenhouse Gas Protocol

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol is the worldwide standard for carbon accounting. EKOenergy-labelled electricity always fulfils the requirements of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Scope 2 Guidance. EKOenergy has made a summary of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Scope 2 Guidance and translated it into 19 languages.

To learn more about how the Greenhouse Gas Protocol refers to EKOenergy, see EKOenergy and carbon accounting. Our summary and its translations are available on the same page.

CDP

CDP is a nonprofit organisation helping companies and public authorities disclose their environmental impact and supporting them to develop effective carbon emission reduction strategies. More than 20,000 organizations are disclosing their environmental information through CDP.

On pages 15 and 16 of its publication Accounting of scope 2 emissions (i.e. emissions related to the production of purchased electricity) CDP writes:

“Ecolabels are a way for companies to do more with their purchases. The GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance mentions the EKOenergy label as an option, as it is a mark of quality that comes on top of tracking certificates. Electricity sold with the EKOenergy label fulfils strict environmental criteria and raises funds for new renewable energy projects. Involvement, transparency, and ‘deeds not words’ are important principles of EKOenergy’s work.”

The report Business Leadership in the Transition to Renewable Electricity by the RE100, CDP, and the Climate Group refers to “the international EKOenergy label, which tackles energy poverty through its Climate Fund and provides additional environmental guarantees to protect nature and habitats” (page 19).

LEED

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a rating system for green buildings. LEED names EKOenergy as one of the best available options and its rating system gives extra points to buildings using EKOenergy-labelled electricity.

The European version of the LEED Standard explicitly recommends the use of EKOenergy-labelled electricity. As a result, buildings aiming at LEED certification can get extra points if the electricity used in that building is EKOenergy-labelled.

• The text LEED 2009 BD+C Supplemental Reference Guide with Alternative Compliance Paths for Europe gives EKOenergy the same status as Green-e labelled RECs in the US. (p.82).
• The same is mentioned on page 37 of the standard for Existing Buildings – Operations and Maintenance Guide (EBOM). Projects making a 5-year contract for EKOenergy-labelled electricity get up to 2 points under LEED V4 (and up to 4 points under O+M).

Outside of Europe, using EKOenergy also brings additional points and it is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

For more information on EKOenergy for LEED, see the online course: Green Power – buying renewable electricity for LEED and carbon accounting.

WWF Green Office

The WWF Green Office programme recommends the purchase of ecolabelled green electricity. And in most countries, EKOenergy is the only available ecolabel for electricity.