To your first point – at MyEmissionsExchange, your electric reductions are determined on a state by state basis using the blended emissions rate of all the power plants in your state as calculated by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. We also correct user emissions for seasonality and weather variation (using degree days) in order to determine your true carbon reductions.

Second, regarding the Waxman–Markey, we are advocating that carbon credits go to the party that generates them. Is that an uphill battle against electric utilities? For sure, but we are opposed to double counting as much as anyone and we are trying to make sure the benefits go to those that earn them.

Third, in theory, electric prices should provide incentive to conserve but if you look at U.S. per capita energy consumption, it is not working very well. The problem is getting an electric bill for something you did 30 days ago, and then trying to determine what you should do differently doesn’t lead to a clear action plan. The key is to provide measurement and feedback so that users can make decisions on conservation, and that is what MyEmissionsExchange is all about. Conservation is the main goal and provides the most reward to the user (the carbon credits are just a small bonus which we hope makes it a bit more attractive).

If you want to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, then conservation and efficiency projects will be the quickest, easiest and lowest investment way to get the job done!