What is a Carbon Offset?
There has been a bit of confusion as to what exactly a “carbon offset” is. People often mistake purchasing Renewable Energy Credits (REC’s) as an expectation that green energy is somehow getting delivered to their house. This is not the case. The goal is a shift in the overall energy grid, moving the overall energy consumption of the community or country as a whole away from non-renewable sources. Though you may live in Georgia, your purchase of REC’s may come from a wind farm in Minnesota. The energy is provided to that community, but shifts the national energy grid away from non-renewable sources like coal, which, in turn, benefits you and your community. This also helps lower the cost of renewable energy for us all. CO2 emissions affect us globally. Offsetting a ton of CO2 in France has the same global impact as offsetting a ton of CO2 in your backyard.
Why Should We Do This?
Carbon dioxide emissions are causing drastic changes around the globe. Everyday in the news there are headlines regarding the endangerment of a new species due to the increases in global temperature—and we might be next. Global temperatures are rising like never before, glaciers are vanishing and weather is becoming more extreme. Most people feel powerless to do anything in regards to this problem. But REC’s make it possible for an individual to have a real, measurable impact of the greenhouse gases emitted into the environment. Most REC’s represent a fixed amount of energy, usually around 1000 kWh. A person can purchase REC’s to neutralize the impact of their home, car and business. The car you drive still burns gasoline and your home might be heated by coal but the environmental impact of these things is offset in the overall energy grid with your purchase of REC’s.
Renewable Energy Needs Our Help
The government likes to claim that it is helping to subsidize renewable energy. This, however, needs to be put in perspective. A report for the National Commission on Energy Policy quoted a low-end estimate for subsidies to non-renewable energy such as oil and coal at 64 billion dollars. Wind energy subsidies in the same year were only 155 million dollars. Less than 1% of the total. This has been the case since 1916 when the federal government began subsidizing oil companies. The oil companies are operating at record profits and gas prices have never been higher, however, they are still operating under the same subsidies with taxpayers paying billions to fund a sector largely capable of operating profitably without anyone’s help. Large oil companies enjoy corporate tax breaks, paying only 11% as compared to the 18% that other corporate sectors must pay. The playing field needs to be leveled.
What We Do
BeeCeuticals has offset more than 100,000 pounds of CO2 this year to ensure that we are 100% carbon neutral. We not only offset our manufacturing, operations and travel but our shipping as well. When you shop online at http://www.beeceuticals.com/, your order is shipped Carbonfree. We offset the environmental impact of your shipment with the Carbonfund.org's Carbonfree shipping program. Our website is also sustainably hosted by http://www.windpoweredwebsites.com/ BeeCeuticals Organics has partnered with Carbonfund.org to offset all of our energy usage with renewable sources. Carbonfund.org is a nonprofit organization that educates the public about the dangers of climate change and makes it easy and affordable for individuals, businesses and organizations to reduce their climate impact. They are reducing the threat of climate change by promoting low-cost carbon reductions and supporting renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation projects that reduce and offset carbon dioxide emissions.
What you can do
We encourage you to visit their website at http://www.carbonfund.org/, calculate your carbon footprint and offset your carbon emissions. While we realize that this is only the beginning when it comes to reducing your entire ecological footprint, offsetting you carbon emissions is a great place to start!
There has been a bit of confusion as to what exactly a “carbon offset” is. People often mistake purchasing Renewable Energy Credits (REC’s) as an expectation that green energy is somehow getting delivered to their house. This is not the case. The goal is a shift in the overall energy grid, moving the overall energy consumption of the community or country as a whole away from non-renewable sources. Though you may live in Georgia, your purchase of REC’s may come from a wind farm in Minnesota. The energy is provided to that community, but shifts the national energy grid away from non-renewable sources like coal, which, in turn, benefits you and your community. This also helps lower the cost of renewable energy for us all. CO2 emissions affect us globally. Offsetting a ton of CO2 in France has the same global impact as offsetting a ton of CO2 in your backyard.
Why Should We Do This?
Carbon dioxide emissions are causing drastic changes around the globe. Everyday in the news there are headlines regarding the endangerment of a new species due to the increases in global temperature—and we might be next. Global temperatures are rising like never before, glaciers are vanishing and weather is becoming more extreme. Most people feel powerless to do anything in regards to this problem. But REC’s make it possible for an individual to have a real, measurable impact of the greenhouse gases emitted into the environment. Most REC’s represent a fixed amount of energy, usually around 1000 kWh. A person can purchase REC’s to neutralize the impact of their home, car and business. The car you drive still burns gasoline and your home might be heated by coal but the environmental impact of these things is offset in the overall energy grid with your purchase of REC’s.
Renewable Energy Needs Our Help
The government likes to claim that it is helping to subsidize renewable energy. This, however, needs to be put in perspective. A report for the National Commission on Energy Policy quoted a low-end estimate for subsidies to non-renewable energy such as oil and coal at 64 billion dollars. Wind energy subsidies in the same year were only 155 million dollars. Less than 1% of the total. This has been the case since 1916 when the federal government began subsidizing oil companies. The oil companies are operating at record profits and gas prices have never been higher, however, they are still operating under the same subsidies with taxpayers paying billions to fund a sector largely capable of operating profitably without anyone’s help. Large oil companies enjoy corporate tax breaks, paying only 11% as compared to the 18% that other corporate sectors must pay. The playing field needs to be leveled.
What We Do
BeeCeuticals has offset more than 100,000 pounds of CO2 this year to ensure that we are 100% carbon neutral. We not only offset our manufacturing, operations and travel but our shipping as well. When you shop online at http://www.beeceuticals.com/, your order is shipped Carbonfree. We offset the environmental impact of your shipment with the Carbonfund.org's Carbonfree shipping program. Our website is also sustainably hosted by http://www.windpoweredwebsites.com/ BeeCeuticals Organics has partnered with Carbonfund.org to offset all of our energy usage with renewable sources. Carbonfund.org is a nonprofit organization that educates the public about the dangers of climate change and makes it easy and affordable for individuals, businesses and organizations to reduce their climate impact. They are reducing the threat of climate change by promoting low-cost carbon reductions and supporting renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation projects that reduce and offset carbon dioxide emissions.
What you can do
We encourage you to visit their website at http://www.carbonfund.org/, calculate your carbon footprint and offset your carbon emissions. While we realize that this is only the beginning when it comes to reducing your entire ecological footprint, offsetting you carbon emissions is a great place to start!
Sources:
Wind Energy Weekly, February 18, 2005
Taxpayers for Common Sense
Wind Energy Weekly, February 18, 2005
Taxpayers for Common Sense
Carbonfund.org
Information and statements regarding BeeCeuticals Organics products have not been evaluated by the FDA. BeeCeuticals Organics products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health condition or disease. Always consult a physician before making any changes in your health regimen. Any information provided in this article is meant for educational purposes only.
No comments:
Post a Comment