Environmental Defense Fund
The potential energy efficiency market is estimated at $1 trillion, but in order to scale up to this level, the energy efficiency finance industry will need to become more standardized. EDF established the Investor Confidence Project (ICP) to transform the energy efficiency market by streamlining transactions and increasing the reliability of projected energy savings. ICP standardizes the way projects are engineered, documented, evaluated and implemented. In other established financial markets, from car loans to home mortgages, standardization has provided the necessary foundation to underwrite and finance investments. ICP’s standardization of energy efficiency projects will increase deal flow and reduce transaction costs by certifying projects that adhere to industry-accepted standards and best practices, thereby increasing investor confidence that predicted financial returns will be realized.