New energy transition marketplace aims to decarbonize buildings as climate strategy
The era of carbon offsets is over. That’s the message from startup WattCarbon, which recently debuted its energy transition marketplace, a first-of-its-kind platform for leveraging building decarbonization as a clear climate strategy. The company has created a tool that enables any organization to see immediate and traceable reductions in fossil fuel use and to avoid the pitfalls of low-value carbon offset markets.
WattCarbon enables organizations with robust climate goals to achieve immediate emissions impacts by purchasing the Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) generated from building decarbonization projects. The earnings are then returned to companies on the front lines of the energy transition to help them deploy more projects at lower cost for consumers while hiring and training more clean-energy workers. Buyers are allocated the EACs from these projects, which range from building electrification, to renewable energy, to demand response, that are to be retired against Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.
Open Source Data Collection
WattCarbon’s market is powered by a highly advanced, hourly energy tracking platform that provides buyers with transparent measurement and verification of their impact. The platform aggregates data from emissions, metered consumption and production, along with weather and other related data, and converts it all into carbon savings using standardized, open-source methods.
“We are taking known energy data and combining it with known emissions data to create the most verifiable impact measurement available,” added Young. “Impact-focused buyers are looking for climate solutions that they can trust. Our platform gives them transparency and confidence that their purchases eliminate emissions and helps accelerate the clean energy transition.”
The company’s Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) philosophy is grounded in principles of open source. The company is a member of LF Energy and a contributor to the Carbon Data Specification Consortium and the OpenEEmeter, projects hosted by LF Energy to ensure access to data required for hourly carbon emissions accounting.
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About the Author
Robert Nieminen
Chief Content Director
Market Content Director, American School & University, Architectural Products, BUILDINGS, and interiors+sources
Robert Nieminen is the Market Content Director of four leading B2B publications serving the commercial architecture and design industries: American School & University, Architectural Products, BUILDINGS, and interiors+sources. With a career rooted in editorial excellence and a passion for storytelling, Robert oversees a diverse content portfolio that spans award-winning feature articles, strategic podcast programming, and digital media initiatives aimed at empowering design professionals, facility managers, and commercial building stakeholders.
He is the host of the I Hear Design podcast and curates the Smart Buildings Technology Report, bringing thought leadership to the forefront of innovation in built environments. Robert leads editorial and creative direction for multiple industry award programs—including the Elev8 Design Awards and Product Innovation Awards—and is a recognized voice in sustainability, smart technology integration, and forward-thinking design.
Robert's work has earned him industry-wide recognition throughout his career, including:
- ASBPE Award (2019, 2018, 2017, 2015)—Best Regularly-Contributed Column; retrofit
- TABPI Award (2017, 2016)—Top 25 Entries, Cover Story; Retail Environments
- WPA Maggie Award (2011, 2010, 2008)—Best Publication, Trade; interiors+sources
- FOLIO: Eddie Gold Award (2022, 2007)—Best Feature Article & Special Section; interiors+sources
- Contributing author of ASID’s 2020 Outlook and State of Interior Design report, as well as The State of the Interior Design Profession (Fairchild Books, 2010), which earned a place on the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers’ “50 Must Read, Must Have” book list.