Information Poster:
Going Carbon-Lite
Put together by Diane Delany
US Forest Service, Pacific SW Research Station, Sierra Nevada Research Center
Presented at CIRMOUNT conference MTNCLIM2006 September 2006
Background
As climate scientists we are understandably concerned about the effects of climate change on the
environment. We see the results of increased greenhouse gas emissions in the ecosystems we study. Many
of us are looking for ways to “walk the talk” and act on these concerns beyond our research. Some of us are
looking for ways to bring these actions not only to our private lives but also to our work places, be they
universities or public agencies. The obvious first steps are reductions in energy use through actions and
innovations that conserve energy and fuel directly. Programs of the three R’s, Reduce-Reuse-Recycle, have
been part of our school, home and work environments for some time now. These programs are important
and have shown that human practices can be changed to be more environmentally conscious. More of the
three R’s are clearly needed and should be a priority, but what more can we do? Going carbon-lite or
“carbon-neutrality” is an option gaining popularity, especially in Europe and countries that signed the
Kyoto Protocol. Basically carbon neutrality works like this: you calculate the polluting emissions you add to
the atmosphere through automobile, airplane, and home power use. Then you effectively “subtract” them
by purchasing what are known as carbon offsets.
A carbon offset is an emission reduction credit from another organization’s project that results in less
carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere than would otherwise occur. Carbon offsets are
typically measured in tons of CO2-equivalents, and are bought and sold through a number of international
brokers, online retailers, and trading platforms. Many types of activities can generate carbon offsets.
Renewable energy such as the wind farm example above, or installations of solar, small hydro, geothermal,
and biomass energy can create carbon offsets by displacing fossil fuels. Other types of offsets available for
sale on the market include those resulting from energy efficiency projects, methane capture from landfills or
livestock, destruction of potent greenhouse gases such as halocarbons, and carbon sequestration projects
(such as reforestation) that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. (Suzuki 2006).
Individuals, companies, and agencies alike have the option of purchasing carbon offsets or carbon credits -also called renewable energy credits (RECs), tradable renewable certificates, green energy certificates, or
green tags. RECs act as offsets for carbon-intensive energy use already or to-be incurred. Money from the
purchase of RECs, brokered through green power networks, provides funds and incentives to support
renewable energy and fuel producers. An eventual goal of carbon offsetting is to convert entirely to carbonfree energy sources. It is becoming increasingly common for agencies and individuals to offset vehicle,
airplane flight, and work and home energy uses through purchase of RECs. For example, carbon-debts
incurred for travel to professional meetings can be offset through purchase of RECs, as can energy uses
from heating, light, computers, etc., in the workplace and home.
Carbon calculators enable estimation of carbon debts that accrue through different types of energy
consumption. With the carbon debt calculated, equivalent RECs can be purchased as offsets. In some states
such as California, climate action registries have been developed as voluntary greenhouse-gas registries to
protect, encourage, and promote early actions to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.
Carbon Offset Calculators
The first step in offsetting energy use is to calculate how much carbon you generate from work or home
sources and from car, airplane, and other travel. There are many carbon calculators available. They can be
used without making a purchase and are useful to browse as a way to understand your carbon
generation. Most of the calculators also provide offsets for sale.
• EPA List of Carbon Calculators
http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/content/ResourceCenterToolsCalculators. html
• The Carbon Fund Calculator http://www.carbonfund.org/site/
• Oregon Climate Trust Calculator http://www.carboncounter.org/
• EarthFuture List of Carbon Calculators http://www.earthfuture.com/climate/calculators/#9
• DriveNeutral Calculator https://www.driveneutral.com/
Purchasing Green Energy Offsets
Many of the carbon calculators also provide options for buying energy offsets. You can choose to buy
offsets in wind power, solar power, biomass fuel production or tree planting. There are many sites that
offer carbon offset purchase.
• DOE Green Power Network's State-by-State Guide
http://www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/buying/buying_power.shtml
• DOE List of Offset Sites http://www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/markets/certificates.shtml?page=1
• Bonneville Power
https://www.greentagsusa.org/GreenTags/offset_average.cfm
Purchase of offsets by U.S. public agencies, state/city governments, universities,
and private companies/businesses (how about yours?)
RECs can also be purchased by private and public sector entities. As an
example, recently reported (September 2006), the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) has become the first federal agency to purchase renewable
energy for 100% of its annual electricity needs. EPA recently signed a 13-month
contract with 3 Phases Energy Services for more than 100 million kWh of
renewable energy certificates (RECs), bringing total agency green power
purchases to nearly 300 million kWh. The latest RECs purchase involves more
than 190 EPA facilities nationwide and supports the development of wind
farms in California, South Dakota, Oklahoma, and Wyoming.
Some sites that have information about RECs purchases by the private
and public sectors in the USA are:
• Green Power Network-Dept of Energy
http://www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/about/index.shtml
• List of US public/private sector entities that have purchased RECs
http://www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/buying/customers.shtml?page=1
Green Conferences and Meetings
Another way in which we, as scientists, can reduce our energy use is by
paying more attention to the resources we use for moving ourselves and
others from place to place. The ways in which we get together to work have a
tremendous impact on energy use. Effective energy conservation includes
reductions in travel through teleconferencing, on-line/on-site training, and
work-at-home options. In addition there is a move toward making the
conferences and meetings we do hold more energy-aware. Aspects that would
be considered for “green” conferences/meetings would be location relative to
attendees and low energy-use transportation and the extent to which the
meeting site/ lodging practiced energy and materials conservation. In the links
below find information on choosing green options when organizing or
attending conferences.
• EPA Green Meetings
http://www.epa.gov/oppt/greenmeetings/index.htm
• BlueGreen Meetings
http://www.bluegreenmeetings.org/
• Green Meetings Canada
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/sustain/EnvironMan/system/greenop/greenmeeting/annex- en.asp
References
Suzuki, David (2006) website:
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Climate_Change/What_You_Can_Do/carbon_neutral.asp