Is carbon bad? Why do we need to offset it?

No! Carbon isn't bad - without it we wouldn't exist. What is bad is how our modern lifestyle depends on us changing carbon's form - using fossil fuels to create energy that moves us and all our stuff around. Cars, planes and our way of life all create CO2, and are not going away soon - so we need to do a better job managing these CO2 emissions. A lot is happening in industry with things like biofuels, but a lot more still needs to be done which is where carbon offsets come in.

Do I need to offset my carbon emissions with a project close to me?

Local climate action is always a plus. The reality is that it doesn't matter where your carbon emissions are offset. Because of our planet's wind currents and climate system, emitting greenhouse gases has a global impact, and removing greenhouse gases does too. Most important is making sure that a carbon offset project is independently verified, and follows a protocol from one of the world's leading authorities like Climate Action Reserve, Gold Standard, VCS and American Carbon Registry.

What are carbon offsets all about?

It's about reducing greenhouse gas emissions, so we can reverse destructive climate change. Here's a quick overview:

There is too much CO2 in the air. The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) stated in late 2018 that "in order to avoid large-scale drought, famine, heat stress, species die-off, loss of entire ecosystems, and loss of habitable land, CO2 emissions must decline by 45% (relative to 2010 levels) by 2030, reaching net zero by around 2050." While great progress has been made in areas like renewable energy, CO2 levels continue increasing as things like air travel and animal based foods become available to more people around the world.

Carbon offsets are a proven way to reduce emissions - either removing existing CO2 from the air (think reforestation), or keeping additional CO2e from being added (think renewable energy). Carbon offsets are only legitimate when created following internationally recognized protocols, and verified by independent third parties. Carbon offsets help fund projects that address climate change.

You can lower some of your personal CO2 emissions by doing things like taking less plane rides, driving a hybrid or electric vehicle and switching all your lights to LED. But because you have to drive to work, shuttle the kids, heat or cool your home, mow your lawn etc. - you still have personal CO2 emissions that are contributing to climate change.

Our purpose is to help you take more action against climate change.

How does Offset Alliance work?

We partner with proven and verified carbon offset project developers to make their carbon offsets available to you and/or your small business - because purchase minimums are well above what you will need to offset the emissions you can't reduce. Our subscriptions and one-time offset options are all based on EPA data of U.S. carbon emissions.

We collaborate with business owners to measure operational carbon emissions.

All revenues are spread across our portfolio of carbon offset projects.

How does my offset help reverse climate change?

Think of it this way...your physical trash gets picked up every week. Offset Alliance makes sure your CO2 emissions (your air trash) is also managed, by being removed from the atmosphere.

What is a carbon offset?

A measured reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases - by either capturing/storing CO2 that is already in the air, or stopping/reducing CO2e from being added to the air. Examples of capture/store include forestry and grasslands, and examples of stop/reduce include renewable energy like wind and biomass. Carbon offsets are measured in metric tons of CO2e. For simplicity we convert metric tons in to pounds on our site and for our subscription options. One metric ton = 2,205 pounds.

How are carbon offsets created?

First, carbon offset projects are developed based on international standards and published protocols from the world's leading carbon offset registries ([Climate Action Reserve][1], [American Carbon Registry][2] and [Verra][3]). After a specified period of time (based on the project type and protocol) - a qualified and independent third party verifies that the project is performing to protocol. With successful verification, carbon offsets are issued for purchase. [3]: https://verra.org/project/vcs-program/ [2]: https://americancarbonregistry.org/ [1]: http://www.climateactionreserve.org/

Where does my subscription money go?

One of the most important details. Your subscription money (minus credit card transaction fees and our administrative fees) is spread across all of our carbon offset projects. We are committed to making a wide variety of carbon offset projects viable and sustainable, which is why we distibute monies this way rather than to single projects.

How does Offset Alliance choose carbon offset projects?

Projects only meet protocol standards when they are:

Additional - meaning not “business as usual”. Carbon offsets can not be generated from things that would otherwise have still happened. Example: a forest is already protected from timber activity and can not be deforested. However if the forest is NOT protected, a project can be developed as part of changing the forest to protected status.

Verifiable - meaning the project was approved, is performing in-line with protocol and is verified by one or more qualified third-parties before any carbon offsets are issued.

After meeting these criteria, Offset Alliance then assesses one or both of the following:

Social impact - is the project helping the local community environmentally, economically or culturally.

Biodiversity - is the project helping native flora and fauna to thrive and/or regenerate.

What does a metric ton (2,205 pounds) of CO2 look like?

Imagine a house - single level 2,400 square feet with average ceiling height 13 feet. Fill it with dirty air and you have roughly a metric ton of CO2.

What does CO2e mean?

Carbon dioxide equivalent. You will see this term used frequently, as it represents climate warming gases including CO2, methane(~30x more potent than CO2) and nitrous oxide(~300x more potent than CO2).

If my energy usage is bundled into my lease (I don't receive an actual energy bill)–how do you measure my CO2e footprint from energy usage?

It is quite common for small business tenants to not receive or directly pay their own energy bill. In this case we use the square footage and location of your leased space, and apply it to data that is published by Energy Star Portfolio Manager–a tool that provides benchmarked energy usage intensity, or "EUI" for a wide variety of building types across the U.S. and Canada. For example, buildings designated as business offices have a specific EUI represented in kWh/ft2/year. We combine this data with the CO2e intensity of energy (how much Co2e is created per kWh of energy delivered to the grid) published by United States and Canadian governments, to benchmark the CO2e emissions associated with your energy usage.