Consumers Utilize Carbon Offset Programs

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 Most of us know we can help the environment by recycling and conserving energy, but now some people are looking to do more about the pollution they create. Carbon offset programs are becoming more popular, but you need to be careful about how you spend your money on these programs.

Attending a concert is one of Marcus Yelton’s favorite past-times. He knows, however, that live music impacts the environment.

“When bands tour, riding in large buses, or flying long flights across the country, they clearly create some damage,” Yelton said.

Marcus was happy to find out that his ticket agent offered a way to neutralize some of that pollution. “They made a decision to plant one tree with every ticket that was sold online, and they also offered the ability to purchase carbon offsets.”

A growing number of companies are now selling similar green incentives.

Julia Bovey of the Natural Resources Defense Council explained, “Airline tickets, hotels that they stay in, grocery shopping, just about anything you can name, you can buy an offset for.”

The companies partner with offset providers who take your money and plant trees, or invest in clean energy projects. Adam Stein of TerraPass describes two examples: “We fund wind farms. We fund farm methane capture projects, which basically help to collect methane from animal waste.”

Costs vary as providers use formulas to calculate how much carbon dioxide your purchase will create.

For example, a domestic flight might cost up to $17. The surcharge on Marcus’ concert tickets was much less. “It’s a nominal amount, $2.95 per ticket, which offsets approx 696 pounds of carbon dioxide.”

This program is so popular that the ticketing company says it has offset nearly 5 million pounds of carbon dioxide in about a year. That’s equal to taking more that 400 cars off the road annually, or recycling more than 12 million aluminum cans.

Marcus says “It doesn’t take a lot of time or energy on the consumer’s part.”

Making sure an offset contribution is used the right way is tough, however.

The Federal Trade Commission says there are no federal regulations for these types of programs.

Bovey says there is one thing consumers can do: “There are several organizations that have gone out and tried to certify offset companies, so one thing you can look at is whether your company has been certified.”

Some offset providers, such as TerraPass, get themselves audited.

“An external auditor comes in and matches up all of our customers purchases and makes sure that we have funded an equivalent number of carbon reductions.”

Marcus made sure his ticket provider was certified, and hopes that other people will give these programs a try.

“I think over time, when more and more people start to take advantage of this, it really can be powerful.”

The FTC is now in the process of reviewing carbon offset programs, and may soon include information about them in the “Green Guides”. In the meantime, consumers are urged do their own research before signing up for any offset program.

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