What we do

Eco-nomics serves as an aggregator of carbon credits for the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX). We help enroll and manage the details of your project, execute the sale of carbon credits you earn, and give you the proceeds from your sale. In short, we take your carbon credits to market and sell them for you.

One carbon credit is the equivalent of one metric ton of carbon dioxide (CO2) removed from the atmosphere. Carbon credits are traded in blocks of 100 tons in a unit called a Carbon Financial Instrument (CFI). The aggregator pools credits from many different projects and executes sales on their behalf. (For more on carbon credits, please see our faq’s page.) Carbon credits are issued in vintages (years) ranging from 2003 to 2010. Trading of CFI’s occurs by vintage, and the price fluctuates much like stocks on the New York Stock Exchange. Carbon credits have typically sold for $1 to $5 each.

Here is a model that represents the steps involved with an offset project and the role of the project owner, the aggregator, and the CCX.

Attest to ownership of offset project Provide necessary information to quantify potential credits Register with Eco-nomics Grant access to CCX verifiers Honor terms of offsets contract Annual project updates Get paid for your project		Gather information and file project application with appropriate CCX committee Coordinate verification of project Manage offset project accounts and carbon reserve pools Execute sales and trades on behalf of offset owners Disburse funds to project owners		Offset committees review and approve offset projects Issue credits to aggregator's account for disbursement Oversight of verification process Monitors the annual reports for compliance with guidelines