What The Heck Are Carbon Offsets?
You may have heard the term “carbon offsets” before, but what are they, and how can they help you live more sustainably? Find out here…
If you’re interested in renewable energy or sustainable energy production and consumption, chances are you may have heard of carbon offsets.
But what are they, how do they work, and how can you use them to reduce your carbon footprint?
Basically, carbon offsets allow you to “offset” (or cancel out) some of your energy consumption by investing in green energy, thereby reducing carbon emissions by an equivalent amount. It’s actually a pretty nifty idea, as it allows you to support the production of more sustainable resources, even if you live in an area where green energy sources aren’t readily available.
The helpful article from TerraPass.com below explains more.
TerraPass is also one of the handful of sources where you can buy carbon offsets, and they have a handy footprint calculator to help you understand your consumption as well.
Shutting off the lights, doing away with plastic water bottles, walking or cycling instead of driving…there’s an endless list to the actions we incorporate into our daily lives to narrow our carbon footprints and hopefully, reduce climate change.
That said, most of us regularly engage in activities that expand our carbon footprint and alternatives to these actions (air travel, driving distances that aren’t serviced by public transportation, preparation of many foods, heating water for bathing, etc.) aren’t yet readily available. There’s a way, however, to mitigate or resolve the environmental damage we cause in our everyday lives…
Carbon offsets are physical proof (usually in the form of a certificate) that carbon dioxide emissions have been removed from the atmosphere by renewable energy projects. One carbon offset is equal to the reduction of one metric ton or 2,205 pounds of CO2 emissions. When you purchase carbon offsets, you contribute to projects throughout the country that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
For those activities that don’t have a green solution (air travel, mobile phone or computer use, etc.), carbon offsets make environmental and economic sense, as they allow individuals and corporations to offset their personal environmental damage by funding projects that reduce emissions and offer green energy solutions…
Learn more at TerraPass.com…
