Offsetting Emissions – What It Is and How You Can Do It.
You produce carbon emissions everytime you drive your car, take an airplane, a train, a bus or any other mode of transportation that requires fossil fuels to run. Fossil fuels are a major contributing factor to global warming, but when vacation time is here there are not many people who are willing to give up their travel plans in the interest of saving the planet.
A whole new “green” industry has built up around this fact. Now there are ways to “offset your carbon emissions” to help balance out the impact your travelling has on the environment. Here’s how:
1. Calculate
The first step to offsetting your emissions is to calculate them. There is also software available for you to calculate your emissions yourself. Once you determine the amount of emissions you are or will be producing, you can find out what you can do to offset that amount.
2. Plant a tree
This is a more do-it-yourself approach to offsetting. Trees absorb carbon monoxide and emit oxygen, so planting trees helps to offet the impact of your emissions. It is a tangible action rather than an obscure purchasing of credits where you don’t necessarily see the results.
3. Buy offsets from a company
There are several organizations available where you can purchase carbon credits. Terrapass, Carbon Footprint and Carbonfund.org are just a few that are out there, but you can do an internet search to find others. The company will calculate how much you owe based on the amount of your emissions, amounts can vary between companies so shop around a little bit.
4. Invest in renewable energy
You can choose to support an organization or group that is developing green technology, by donating money or volunteering time. You could also support renewable energy by investing in energy efficient upgrades to your own home.
Carbon offsets are available to both individuals and companies. So not only can you offset your vacation miles but your employer can also offset any business travelling you do. If you just can’t stay close to home then investing in carbon offsets is the environmentally friendly way to travel.
