The term "carbon offsets" keeps coming up and going around, but how many of us really understand what it means? Basically,
a carbon offset is something you buy, or invest in, to counterbalance your own personal negative environmental impact, or carbon footprint, on the world. Most carbon offsets fall into one of these 4 categories:
- Reforestation (planting trees)
- Energy efficiency and conservation (using less fossil-fueled power)
- Renewable energy (energy that doesn't rely on fossil fuels at all)
- Methane capture (helps prevent evil methane from entering the atmosphere)
By giving groups that provide these services your money in specifically measured amounts (offsets) you can feel better about the things you can't change just yet. For example on a recent trip I had to fly so I bought a $10 carbon offset from
TerraPass to counterbalance the emissions from my flight and I admit it: it made me feel better!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-02-2007 @ 9:30PM
Griz said...
I'm glad "it made you feel better". It's all about feelings isn't it. Well, Merry Christmas, oops, sorry, Happy Holidays. Did that make you "feel better" too.
If you listen real close, you can almost hear the water swirlin'. That's the sound of our country going down the crapper. I may sound angry, but I'm not, I'm just fed up, with nut jobs like you, Rigel!
Griz
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