Posted by Kelly Smith on Thu, Jul 29, 2010
Demand for sustainable products and services worldwide continues to expand. Green businesses are thinking in new ways about how to protect the planet and satisfy their customers at the same time. UPS began a carbon neutral shipping program last fall to serve customers who wish to pay a little extra to offset the carbon dioxide emissions from shipping their packages. UPS was the first package delivery service to offer this kind of green shipping option.
This popular program has now expanded to UPS locations across the United States, online, and around the world. For only 75 cents, a customer can ship a package carbon free from the United States to any international location. Domestically, the optional surcharge is as low as five cents for customers to ship their packages without pollution or guilt. In 2010, customer purchases of offsets will go twice as far, since UPS will match their investments.
UPS currently purchases carbon offets from the Garcia River Forest Climate Action Project. This organization is overseen by The Nature Conservancy and The Conservation Fund to ensure its validity as a provider of reliable carbon offsets. It is important for businesses and consumers to purchase offsets or renewable energy credits that are certified or verified. UPS also plans to support other offset projects worldwide.
Offering a simple and inexpensive way for customers to feel better about the sustainability of their purchases is an excellent idea for any business to increase business and improve customer satisfaction.
Photo via Justinls
Posted by Kelly Smith on Tue, May 04, 2010
A recent
article in the Christian Science Monitor reveals that not all carbon offsets are created equal. Many people are feeling frustrated that they have spent money on carbon reduction projects that never made it off the ground or did not live up to their expectations. One problem is that, according to the Christian Science Monitor article, "There is little regulatory oversight of them in the US, no enforcement of requirements to prove their environmental claims, no certain way of measuring the carbon savings being sold, and no guarantees that planted trees or other projects will be finished or continued long enough to work." This disillusionment in carbon offsets is especially problematic in the U.S., home of the world's largest carbon footprint.
One solution to this problem is for consumers and businesses to seek to invest in green power that is certified and verified through Green-e, which is an independent program that protects consumers as they seek to opt for green energy. Companies such as EcoElectrons help businesses to purchase green power from reliable sources and generate Renewable Energy Credits once the renewable energy is injected into the power grid.
Another solution is for individuals and businesses to think about reducing their carbon footprint, not just investing in some form of offsetting their conventional power usage. How? Reduce gasoline use by carpooling, using public transportation, combining errands, driving a more fuel efficient car, and keeping tires properly inflated. Reduce electricity use by using EnergyStar appliances, turning off lights when you leave the room, unplugging electronic devices that are not in use, or adjusting the thermostat by a few degrees. Recycle paper to save carbon dioxide absorbing trees. Just a few small changes can make a big difference.
Posted by Rahul Chitrapu on Wed, Jan 27, 2010
The organizers of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are on a quest to host the first carbon-neutral Olympics, and they're asking spectators to kick in for the cause.
Vancouver 2010 is encouraging tourists traveling to the Olympic Games to purchase carbon offsets that fund sustainability projects. These credits help to eliminate the carbon footprint left by carbon dioxide that's produced when people drive or fly long distances. The organization estimates that spectators will be responsible for generating almost half of the carbon footprint left by the games.
Vancouver 2010 is partnering with Offsetters, a British Columbia, Canada-based carbon asset management company. The firm connects individuals and businesses with specific carbon-offset projects to which they can contribute. The Olympics organizers are directing all spectators to the Offsetters website at www.offsetters.ca to determine their carbon footprint and contribute accordingly.
The site features an offset calculator that allows travelers to select their departure city and destination, as well as whether they are flying or driving. The site then calculates the total trip emissions in metric tonnes, with a suggested cost of at least $20 per tonne of emissions. Offsetters also allows the travelers to select a specific project portfolio to choose from, with a mix of locally developed projects, international Voluntary Carbon Standard credits and Gold Standard credits.
The Games organizers have already made arrangements to offset direct carbon emissions for the Olympics, including those generated by venue construction and athletes' travel from around the world. Vancouver 2010 has also taken other steps to reduce harmful emissions by choosing strategic venue sites, approaching energy management with an emphasis on renewable resources, and pushing use of the city's expanded public transit system during the Games.
Photo via Miss Barabanov
Posted by Rahul Chitrapu on Sun, Jan 10, 2010
According to a new study by British researchers, starfish and their fellow echinoderms (sea urchins, sea lilies, etc) act as a significant sinks for CO2 by converting it into Calcium Carbonate. Researchers knew echinoderms stored large amounts of calcium carbonate, some have bodies made up of 80 percent of the stuff, but they were still shocked by the results. It turns out, the small animals capture about 0.1 gigatonnes of carbon per year, compared to the 5.5 gigatonnes of carbon human activity pumps into the air annually.
The armchair expert's take on this: start harvesting starfish in coastal areas and generate carbon credits. Too bad Copenhagen did not produce any results. Starfish farms would have been the next big thing.
via EcoGeek
via Nature