 Carbon Tips
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Offset emissions with Carbon creditsOffsetting emissions is a process whereby an organisation purchases carbon credits to neutralise its global warming impact. Each carbon credit represents the abatement or sequestration of one tonne of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gases - or carbon emissions - from our atmosphere.At the Carbon Reduction Institute, we currently offer carbon credits from a Household Energy Efficiency Project in New Zealand. To find out more, click here.  Different Carbon Offset Types Explained:Energy Efficiency InstallationsEnergy Efficiency Installations reduce total energy consumption which, in turn, reduces the amount of fossil fuels (and thus CO2) burnt in generating power.Swapping an incandescent bulb for a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) is a well known example. A CFL uses up to 80% less electricity than a conventional bulb, which translates into energy and carbon emission reductions. When you buy a carbon offset or carbon credits generated by energy efficiency projects, you are funding projects which reduce energy consumption and the CO2 emissions resulting from energy use. Below is an example of how energy efficiency can reduce CO2 emissions through light bulb replacement:
Despite these amazing figures, the lack of consumer awareness of paybacks on energy efficiency have meant that the vast majority of lightbulbs currently installed in homes around the world are not CFLs. This is why carbon credits are being used as a finance mechanism to get these bulbs installed. When done properly, carbon credits created by CFL installations have great social outcomes in that they educate people about the benefits of energy efficiency. Back to top
Renewable Energy SystemsRenewable energy systems convert the earth’s natural energy sources (such as sunlight, wind, water and the energy stored in wood/plant matter) into electricity or mechanical energy with zero net CO2 emissions.By replacing energy generated by burning fossil fuels with clean, renewable energy systems, we can drastically reduce carbon or CO2 emissions. When you buy carbon credits generated by renewable energy projects, you are funding projects that reduce our dependency on CO2 heavy fossil fuels like coal and oil. We can supply VCS Standard Wind Energy credits on request at $20 per credit. Please give us a call or send us an enquiry if you are interested. Back to top
Tree Plantation ProjectsTree plantation projects sequester CO2 through photosynthesis; thus allowing for the creation of carbon credits. Thus you can also fund the removal of CO2 from the atmosphere if you purchase carbon offset from tree plantation projects. We contract Western Australian based organisation Men of the Trees to plant trees on behalf of our certified businesses. This is done for paper resource replenishment purposes and not for carbon offsetting.We are oppossed to tree plantation projects over renewable energy and energy efficiency projects due to the lack of assurance that can be offered for carbon credits that come from tree stocks. The carbon credits we provide are tested for both, their immediate effect and permanence which tree credits fail on. Back to top
Methane Combustion, Containment and Abatement Carbon credits can also be created through the combustion, abatement or containment of methane gas generated by farm animals, landfill, or other industrial waste. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) 21 times that of CO2. When combusted, each molecule of methane is converted to one molecule of CO2, thus reducing the global warming effect by 96%. Methane can also be processed using an anaerobic digester which generates electricity or heat.An example for a methane abatement project is the South Metropolitan Regional Council’s (SMRC) Landfill Diversion Programme. The SMRC’s waste processing facility diverts from landfill the household rubbish of more than 350,000 residents. When the disposal of organic matter to landfill is avoided by composting, methane emissions are abated, as the waste is broken down in the presence of oxygen. This reduces the amount of methane produced. Back to top |
Carbon offsetting
 
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