Posted on 21 April 2008, at 5:47 am, by Wayne Schulz

Earth Day is tomorrow April 22. If you’ve been haphazard in your conservation efforts you may be interested to know that you can do something to ease your conscience help the environment just by opening your wallet. Carbon Offsets are an unregulated market whose providers take your donations and pledge to fund and support various types of projects including reforestation, renewable energy initiatives (solar, wind and hydro power). How do you find a reputable Carbon Offset provider? How much carbon are you emitting each year? Keep reading!
Since the Carbon Offset market is largely unregulated, it can be difficult to separate the legitimate from no-so-legitimate companies that may offer to take you “carbon offset donation”.
How do you compute just how much Carbon Offset you should buy? Do you know what your annual estimate Carbon emissions are? To calculate your estimated carbon emission you could use the page at NativeEnergy which offers both a lifestyle and travel calculator to estimate your emissions (see link below).
The web site - carbonoffsetreview.com - provides information and links to Carbon Offset providers located in USA, Canada, UK and Australia.
Remember - this is a largely unregulated market so please do your research prior to donating

Carbon Offsets are an interesting way to fund green energy and other renewable energy initiatives. Just be sure to verify that the company soliciting your donation is legitimate and putting your money to productive use.
Link: CarbonOffsetReview.com
Link: Calculate your Carbon Impact
Link: Carbon Offset Wikipedia Entry
April 21st, 2008 at 10:48 am
OK, I will put on my “Cranky Judie” hat, but buying carbon offsets just seems like such a cop-out to me; it seems like the typical reaction of big business (or the filthy rich) to throw money at something to make their share of the problem go away - or at least their guilt for it. I think the more honorable thing for companies or individuals to do (if they really care) is face up to their contribution to the problem, meet it head-on, and try to change. Even small changes can make a big difference. (/rant)
April 21st, 2008 at 11:32 am
This probably won’t go well with some readers here, but IMHO the whole “carbon offsets” thing is a huge fraud: as if you can somehow buy your way out of “damage” that’s already done. Rather than give someone else $100 for “carbon offsets”, which, by the way, translates to at least $90 profit for them and $10 of actual environmental work, plant $100 worth of trees yourself. You’ll do more and actually see the results!
April 21st, 2008 at 11:35 am
What you said sits well with me.
I agree.
April 21st, 2008 at 11:36 am
I’d be curious about what the “administrative expenses” are of these types of unregulated organizations.
I’m quite sure you are correct, that you get a bigger impact doing a lot of things yourself.
I rode my bike to work today!
Wonder how much carbon credit that gives..
April 21st, 2008 at 11:38 am
“Wonder how much carbon credit that gives..”
None, because someone else didn’t make a percentage off of your contribution.
But good on you for riding you bike!
April 22nd, 2008 at 5:09 am
Don’t forget—on Earth Day, Ben and Jerry’s gives out free ice cream cones!!!! (or at least they used to—I’m pretty sure they still do)
April 22nd, 2008 at 5:14 am
OK, just checked their web site and it says “free scoop day” is April 29th (NEXT Tuesday). HOpefully everyone didn’t pack up the kiddies already!! If you check the web site it will tell you if your local B & J participates.
July 24th, 2008 at 7:03 am
There is actually one Carbon Offset program, that I know, that is regulated.
It is the Green EU Initiative by Europe’s Energy Portal at http://www.energy.eu