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This is typical “business method” patent and subject to scrutinity and controvery. Basically, patents should be granted for technical inventions only, e.g. improved chemical process or hinge for iphone, not tax optimization or cap-and-trade scams. Supreme Court is now debating “Bilski”.
It is plausible that Supreme Court will struck down these kind of patents (ie they became obsolete). The decision will come no later than June 28.

This is the “invention”.
1. A computer-implemented method for providing a residential emissions trading program, comprising the steps of: identifying an energy savings opportunity in a residential property; quantifying an emissions reduction produced by the energy savings opportunity, wherein quantifying the emissions reduction further comprises measuring an energy savings resulting from the energy savings opportunity and calculating an emissions reduction resulting from the energy savings, and wherein calculating the emissions reduction further comprises qualifying a technical confidence factor for the energy savings opportunity; and aggregating the emissions reductions into a tradable commodity.

Personally, I believe Supreme Court will struck down these and this Fannia Mae insider patent will became more or less obsolete.

Interesting aspect here is that patents filed by Gov employees are owned by US Gov. Fannie Mae was not officially Gov agency, but it indirectly it was.

PATENTS

Government and Employee Rights and Responsibilities
Under Executive Order 10096 the Government has the right to obtain the entire right, title and interest in and to all inventions made by any Government employee (1) during working hours, or (2) with a contribution by the Government of facilities, equipment, materials, funds, or information, or of time or services of other Government employees on official duty, or (3) which bear a direct relation to or are made in consequence of the official duties of the inventor. See also 37 C.F.R. §501.6 and Kaplan v. Corcoran, et al.