Global warming isn’t something we are debating. It’s here and we’ve got to deal with it. One of the many ways is becoming carbon-neutral on our way to carbon-negative.
Here are 5 ways companies can become carbon-neutral:
1. Purchase a Carbon Credit: Companies can offset their carbon emissions by purchasing a carbon credit. These credits are based on the idea that while companies cannot stop global warming, they can help to slow it down. So while companies continue to pump greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, future clean energy projects will be developed that will absorb the carbon dioxide. Clean energy projects can include anything from solar panels, wind turbines, hydroelectric dams, etc. Check out Persefoni for buying carbon footprint solutions.
2. Ride the Coattails of Others: There are many organizations around the world that work to offset their own carbon emissions by funding renewable energy projects taught in universities or built by companies highly devoted to environmental conservation. These organizations typically purchase RECs (renewable energy certificates) in order to support these green-energy initiatives and thus reduce their own environmental impact. One such organization is The Conservation Fund, which offsets all of its carbon emissions through REC purchases with Green-e Climate certified providers.
3. Buy your RECs in a Market that Supports Purchasing them from You: For those of you who would like to sell your RECs, several markets offer this service. One such market is Future Trust, known as the first financial instrument dedicated to environmentally friendly activities and projects. Other companies that also provide a platform for selling and purchasing RECs include Green-e Climate, Renewable Choice Energy, and Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
4. Sell your RECs in a Market that Supports Purchasing them from You: For those of you who would like to buy credits, there are many different businesses out there that support two-way buying and selling of green energy certificates (RECs) — otherwise known as “green tags.” Two such companies offering carbon offsets via REC purchases are NativeEnergy and The Conservation Fund.
5. Participate in a Green Power Program: There are many companies that offer green power programs, with the aim of offsetting the carbon footprint of their customers’ electricity use. One such company is Terrapass, which is committed to purchasing RECs for 100% of your home’s carbon emissions from energy use and offsets those emissions yearly through renewable energy projects. Another example would be Arcadia Power, which provides its services to residential and small business owners and invests funds to install local solar panels and wind turbines.
It’s my hope that more businesses will begin to see they have the ability to impact climate change before we’ve crossed a tipping point. We may have already.
