Essent will compensate the CO2 emissions of its products Green for Gas (domestic users) and Green for Gas Business (business users) exclusively with Gold Standard Certificates.

These certificates are only given to projects that meet the strictest conditions on climate compensation. The Gold Standard is an initiative of, amongst others, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Until 1 January 2009 Essent also used forest project certificates as carbon offset. By using Gold Standard projects Essent is not only compensating for CO2 emissions from burning gas but is also investing in sustainable energy applications. Essent thereby encourages the transfer from fossil fuels to clean sustainable energy sources.

Gold Standard

Gold Standard is an independent label. Validation and verification of Gold Standard requirements can only be done by organisations that are accredited under the UN climate change protocol.

Projects with the Gold Standard label have to meet the following requirements:

1. They must contribute to a community’s social and economic development – and show respect for the environment.

2. They must contribute to sustainable energy and energy efficiency. Gold Standard therefore represents investment in the long term and in a clean future.

3. A Gold Standard certified project would not have taken place without investment in climate compensation. This means that a project has to be ‘additional’.

4. Climate compensation through Gold Standard increases the proportion of sustainable energy worldwide and is a transfer away from fossil fuels to clean, sustainable energy sources.

More information is available in Dutch at www.essent.nl/groenvoorgas and www.essent.nl/groenvoorgaszakelijk