Introduction to Carbon Credits
The New Oxford American Dictionary declared its 2006 word of the year to be “carbon neutral.” It’s certainly a term that’s been around the block lately: From Al Gore’s movie to London taxi cabs, many high profile individuals and even companies are offsetting their carbon emissions through carbon “credits” or “offsets,” thereby becoming more or less “carbon neutral.”
Carbon dioxide (CO2) – a major contributor to global warming – is emitted when we drive, when we fly, or when we flip the light switch (if the electricity comes from fossil fuels, which most of it does). We’re moving slowly toward a renewable energy system, but not fast enough for a lot of us. So one way to cut through the bureaucratic mess holding back 60 mpg vehicles and lots of clean electricity is to become carbon neutral yourself.
Buying carbon credits is as easy as doing a Google search and having your credit card ready. One can invest in an organization, activity, or event that reduces the carbon dioxide spewing into the atmosphere. Carbon credits range from tree planting (trees absorb or “breathe” carbon dioxide) to donating to an organization that develops solar ovens in Africa that don’t need to burn wood (and release carbon) to cook food. Many sites will calculate your personal carbon emissions based on where you live, how much your drive, where you get your power, etc, and then determine how many units you need to buy to become carbon neutral. Americans emit over 20 tons of carbon per person per year, and the cost per ton of certified carbon credits range from $5-$30 per ton. If you can’t offset a whole year of carbon, you can buy smaller increments, like offsetting the emissions from a trans-Atlantic flight or even a wedding.
Besides individuals who want to fight global warming, many companies are becoming carbon neutral too. Ski resorts, grocery stores, and banks are buying carbon credits in the form of wind power to offset their electricity use. Is this good PR for them? Absolutely. But they’re also feeling the impacts of global warming, from shorter winters to stronger storms to altered growing seasons. Companies that are feeling this effect on their bottom line will do well by their shareholders and by the planet to reduce their carbon pollution.
To be sure, carbon credits have their critics. Namely, that it gives people a false sense of security that they can keep on polluting without harming the planet. Of course, people must be educated while they’re buying credits; namely, that the first step is to make your life as efficient as possible: Switch out your old-fashioned light bulbs for super efficient compact fluorescent ones (the swirly kind), or take public transportation, or buy green power from your utility if it’s available.
Next, check out a reputable company to get hooked up with carbon credits. Offsetting your carbon emissions with clean energy or more trees is a practical, meaningful way to fight global warming. And don’t forget to call your elected official and demand more renewable energy in our electric system and higher fuel efficiency standards for our vehicles. Then, you can declare yourself the hottest thing in 2007: carbon neutral.
Coming up next Wednesday: An overview of the different types of carbon credits, and which may work best for you.
Illustration: Ilana Kohn
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Wikipedia
February 7th, 2007 at 8:48 am
I've been hearing a lot about carbon credits these days, but I don't know a lot about them. I'll be looking forward to your article on Friday!
February 7th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Thanks Lornadoone! This is an important issue, and I’m learning a lot myself.
February 7th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
Maria,
It is always good to discuss the details with carbon credits to better inform the public what to watch for and what is best fits with their needs. However, you need to ensure that you give them correct info. And by shamelessly plugging the owner of this community company you are doing a diservice for consumers. Renewable Choice doesnt sell carbon offsets they sell wind. Wind can correlate to carbon offsets but are not a 1 to 1 correlation and non of their products are additional. Just a heads up.
Brian
February 8th, 2007 at 1:05 am
Hi Brian,
I’d like the chime in here. In full disclosure, I’m Publisher of GO and was a founder of Renewable Choice Energy. I remain a small stockholder in the company and two of the groomsman at my wedding pretty much run things over there.
I’m really glad you wrote this Brian. CO2 Offsets are one of the most confusing issues in Green today. I am a big believer in the use of Offsets as a part of a multi-pronged strategy to go Green. Offsets are not perfect, they are confusing to just about everyone around, but I think the facts show that high quality, certified Offset markets have a positive impact on the environment.
Renewable Choice sells wind credits. Those wind credits are produced by clean wind turbines, displacing the need to burn fossil fuels for the power generated. That saves CO2 from being released into the air. They are different from other kinds of Offsets that plant trees or rely on Industrial CO2 reduction, but that doesn’t mean they could not be considered CO2 Offsets.
I may be personally a fan of wind credits, but I don’t let that get in the way of Green Options doing the best job it can to clear up this very muddled issue. This series that Maria is running should get us started down that path and while it may mention Renewable Choice, it does so because they are one of the top wind credit companies in the country, not simply because of my involvement.
Thanks for the comment!
Shea
February 8th, 2007 at 1:17 am
Hi Maria,
Thanks for the great info, as always!
I’m looking forward to your post on Friday as well. What great timing you have, I was just looking up how to offset the CO2 that will be spewed by the plane I’m taking to Spain in March. If you find any sites that allow you to calculate much you’d need to offset to cover things like flights, I hope you’ll share them in your next post.
~Megan Prusynski
my site | volksvegan adventures | unplug
February 8th, 2007 at 3:14 am
Thanks for your note, Brian. I included Renewable Choice Energy as an example because they sell offsets/wind credits to some really big companies, but that doesn't excuse the fact that I neglected to point out Shea's connection. My apologies.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
how can somebody sell carbon credits? i have some land and would like to help rich people live guilt free by selling them carbon credits and planting a tree or something. i would really like to get in before the warmer weather end and we start cooling off.
thanks
June 18th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Instead of purchasing carbon credits outright, can I purchase energy-efficient products that offer carbon credits? Or better yet, how does one get their products carbon credit certified?
April 29th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
[...] President Barry Mills has even signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment to achieve carbon neutrality. [...]
May 20th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
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