Carbon Offsets

[extreeski]

Hey,

I thought I'd offer up one way we as skiers can combat global warming. There's this concept called carbon offsetting. I am sure some of you are familiar with it. Some may even think it really doesn't get to the root of the problem. But, depending on where you put you Carbon Offset money you may just be neutralizing your carbon output.

I joined for 7.50 a month. (I also have windpower with PGE so I got off easy.)

The average american needs to offset his/her carbon output with about 15.00 give or take how much other stuff you do to offset carbon output. The projects at Climate Trust are truly geared towards offsetting carbon in a number of genuinely

http://www.carboncounter.org/

Seriously, think about it. While we're all whining how our favorite ski areas aren't open yet.

And if you live in the EU, there's a bunch of resources there too. But enjoy your snow in Switzerland, you deserve it.

[801 jav]

How about if skiers stop driving large 4x4s and SUVs. You don't need it unless your pulling sleds to get to the backcountry. This has been said before... but few care to listen.

[southbalto]

Thanks for the hot tip.

[Cliff Huckable]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but buying carbon offsets seems to be a quick and convenient way for people to assuage their guilt for not REUSING/RECYCLING/REDUCING.

[Jer]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but buying carbon offsets seems to be a quick and convenient way for people to assuage their guilt at not REUSING/RECYCLING/REDUCING.

Nahh - you're 100% correct.

extreeski - have you ever heard of the Padded Room, JONG? I bet you'd really like it.

[extreeski]

Every little bit helps.

And I bet most people who do everything they possibly can ALSO purchase Carbon Offsets.

Wanker

[GrizzlyFD]

It is a good idea, but like was said before doesn't address the real problem we (US and WORLD population) are causing. It puts money where it needs to be to combat global warming, but I think is more of a feel good substitute for actually reducing use of natural resources.

[extreeski]

Well,

The offsets are a start. I don't feel good about purchasing offsets. I am actually kinda pissed that I am not skiing the next couple weeks.

People can buy acreage of rainforest to protect from deforestation too with Coolearth.org

You can also switch to wind power. Change out your bulbs. Walk and Ride your bike more and drive less. Take the bus train or carpool to work. Yes, carpool to the mountain if you can. And yes, get rid of your oversized SUV's. Do you really need your escalade?

[Jer]

I don't feel good about purchasing offsets.

Then why did you post about it?:

I joined for 7.50 a month. (I also have windpower with PGE so I got off easy.)

The average american needs to offset his/her carbon output with about 15.00 give or take how much other stuff you do to offset carbon output.

To share your shame?

Bung hole.

[Cyber Cop]

Stupid Jerbil.

[truth]

It's better than doing nothing.

If you happen to live under the realm of Rocky Mountain Power you can also enroll in the "Blue Sky Program".

Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky program provides customers with a simple and convenient way to purchase renewable energy and support new renewable energy development, including community-based renewable energy projects in the region. Customers can buy Blue Sky in 100-kilowatt-hour blocks for $1.95 each, in addition to their regular monthly electricity bill. Business customers can save on larger purchases. Enrollment is optional and customers can increase their participation or withdraw from the program at any time.

“The George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Medical Center is one of many large organizations in the Salt Lake Valley, but one of the first in the Department of Veterans Affairs to participate in furthering wind generation of electricity by purchasing blocks of renewable power through the Blue Sky program,” said James R. Floyd, Director, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System. By matching 100 percent of its electricity use to renewable energy sources, Rocky Mountain Power estimates that the VA Medical Center, a Visionary level Blue Sky partner, is helping to avoid more than 4.1 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually. This creates environmental benefits equivalent to not driving more than 4.4 million miles each year or planting 814 acres of trees.

Customers who want to sign up for Blue Sky can call Rocky Mountain Power at 800-769-3717 or click here .

[jepilot]

honestly, as already said, people will use offsets to feel less guilty, and throwing money at the situation is easier than lifestyle change. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't offsets supposed to be for after you've already done everything in your power to reduce/reuse/recycle?

[TS Quint]

Doesn't throwing money at a problem always work?

[tex1230]

Who gets the money when you buy these? Can you re-sell your offset if the price goes up? Is anyone (business) required to buy them?

Seems like a way to throw away money to make yourself feel important...

Edit: According to the website referenced above,

Where Your Money Goes
Offset purchases cover direct payments to project owners, sponsors, and developers, as well as maintenance and development of this program. About 92% of all funds received by The Climate Trust goes towards offset programs.

So they are taking 8% as a management fee and to cover expenses. That's a huge percentage for an organization that by its very nature should be able to exist with an almost all volunteer workforce. Seems Like the guys runnung this are either really dumb about business or scamming all of you and getting very rich.

[extreeski]

It's better than doing nothing.

Exactly.... Lets just argue and not do anything to help.

That's the way to get things done.

Projects that the climate trust has in its portfolio:

http://www.carboncounter.org/offset-...portfolio.aspx

For example:

Preservation of a Native Northwest Forest

Vital Statistics
Offsets: 350,000 metric tons carbon dioxide
Equivalent to taking 69,721 cars off the road for a year
Project Type: Sequestration
Project Lifetime: 100 years
Starting Date: December 2002
Location: Washington
Project Partners: Lummi Indian Tribe

Project Description
The Climate Trust has contracted to purchase offsets from a Lummi Indian Tribe project to acquire previously logged forest land and manage it to permanent old growth. This project also creates an educational laboratory for the Northwest Indian College. With funding from The Climate Trust the Lummi Indian Tribe has bought more than 1,654 acres of historical tribal forest land near Mt. Vernon, Washington, to protect it from logging and to capture 350,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide over the next century. A 100-year conservation easement will help ensure that old growth forests develop and are preserved. The project site is located in the Arlecho Creek watershed, and involves rare mid-elevation Cascade mountain forest.

How the project reduces CO2
The Arlecho Creek land that was purchased by the Lummi Indian Tribe was threatened by commercial logging. This project will protect and restore the land and allow it to grow back to old growth forest. Over the 100 year life of the project the forest will capture at least 350,000 metric tons of the most significant greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide. The project site will be used as an educational laboratory by the Northwest Indian College, which is chartered by the Lummi Indian Tribe, and other universities. The laboratory will both educate Indian and non-Indian students about measuring the amount of carbon dioxide sequestered in trees, soil and other vegetation, as well as facilitate research on halting global warming through sequestration of carbon dioxide in forests.

Non-GHG Benefits
Preservation and reforestation of the Arlecho Creek lands will help sustain important salmon and endangered species habitat
The project site is also a sanctuary for the traditional religious practices of the Lummi Indian Tribe
Additionality Criteria: Why We’re Involved
With The Climate Trust’s funding, the Lummi Indian Tribe was able to acquire the Arlecho Creek site that would have remained under logging company ownership, and been subsequently logged.
Partners

[extreeski]

Or:

Paper Manufacturer Efficiency Upgrade
Vital Statistics
Offsets: 192,000 metric tons carbon dioxide
Equivalent to taking 38,247 cars off the road for one year
Project Type: Energy Efficiency
Project Lifetime: 10 years
Starting Date: 2005
Location: Oregon
Project Partners:
• Blue Heron Paper Company
• Energy Trust of Oregon
• Oregon Department of Energy

Project Description
The Climate Trust has contracted to buy offsets from an industrial energy efficiency project being implemented by the Blue Heron Paper Company. Blue Heron will reduce its energy use by 25% and increase its capacity to use recycled paper as a raw material. In addition, the Energy Trust of Oregon and the Oregon Department of Energy are providing financial incentives, energy tax credits, and loans to supplement Blue Heron’s equity investment in this project. This is one of the largest energy efficiency projects ever undertaken in Oregon.

What separates this project from others is that the manufacturing process and material flows through the factory are modified to be more efficient, rather than simply replacing specific equipment with more efficient versions.

How the project reduces CO2
The facility uses two types of feedstock to make their paper: wood waste chips from timber operations and recycled paper. Paper manufacturing using the recycled paper feedstock is much less energy intensive. The project will increase the facility’s capacity to use the recycled paper feedstock through the removal of production bottlenecks, retrofit of equipment, and other measures. Overall capacity of the facility will remain the same, resulting in a decrease of energy intensity and fossil fuel consumption.

Non-GHG Benefits
Blue Heron will increase its paper-recycling capacity by over 100 tons per day and save millions of dollars in energy costs annually.
The investment will increase the company’s global competitiveness, providing more job security and job growth opportunities for its employees.
Additionality Criteria: Why We’re Involved
With The Climate Trust’s funding, Blue Heron was able to surpass the capital costs for the new equipment that otherwise would have been beyond Blue Heron’s financial limitations.

[extreeski]

Then why did you post about it?:

To show people that they can offset all their driving to the resorts/mountain by putting a little of their $ towards the solution until we can come up with a real solution to our problems. We have to start somewhere.

Gee, with all the money we spend on skiing we can't float 10 to 20 bucks a month to ngo's and power companies working to solve the crisis?

Trust me, I'd rather be skiing than arguing with some dingleberry like Jer.

[Trackhead]

I wonder if Al Gore would be willing to give me a low interest carbon credit loan?

[extreeski]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't offsets supposed to be for after you've already done everything in your power to reduce/reuse/recycle?

That's what I've been saying!!!

[extreeski]

I wonder if Al Gore would be willing to give me a low interest carbon credit loan?

To what, offset the nonexistent carbon emissions from your new cool little heli?

[Trackhead]

To what, offset the nonexistent carbon emissions from your new cool little heli?

No, to offset my carbon emissions from driving up LCC 3-4 times per week in search of snow.

[extreeski]

No, to offset my carbon emissions from driving up LCC 3-4 times per week in search of snow.

I know. I was just trying to make a joke on six hours of sleep.

[extreeski]

That I think is the rub, We, skiers who drive to the hill, all contribute to the demise of snow.

What a fuckin' catch 22.

[Trackhead]

I know. I was just trying to make a joke on six hours of sleep.

Me to.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[MeatPuppet]

Exactly.... Lets just argue and not do anything to help.

That's the way to get things done.

Projects that the climate trust has in its portfolio:

http://www.carboncounter.org/offset-...portfolio.aspx

For example:

Preservation of a Native Northwest Forest

It's normally best not to look to politicians and salesmen for your education.

"April 10, 2007
WARMING AGENT: A new study suggests that forests in snow-covered areas may actually contribute to global warming."

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?cha...B83ECB&ref=rss



December 5, 2005
Using climate models, researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the Carnegie Institution Department of Global Ecology have found that forests in the mid-latitude regions of the Earth present a more complicated picture. Trees in these areas tend to warm the Earth in the long run.
“We thought planting trees across the northern hemisphere would help curb global warming by the CO² absorption but what we found was a different story.”

http://www.llnl.gov/pao/news/news_re...-05-12-04.html


"November 17, 2006
"Randerson's findings have implications for tree-planting projects designed to sequester carbon by trapping it in forests. If large areas are reforested, he says, "it might be that you accumulate carbon in the forest, but you might darken the surface, too." Darkening the surface with forests could cause more radiation to be absorbed, which in turn could lead to climate warming."

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?art...=related_links



"Apr 12th 2007
Carbon-offset outfits should take note of Dr Bala's paper. Planting trees in convenient places such as Europe and North America may actually be counterproductive."

http://www.economist.com/science/dis...ory_id=8998216

I'm all for doing more to reduce our impact on the earth and use our resources more efficiently. But if your goal is to combat global warming, make sure that you are getting your information from somewhere other than the people who want your money or your votes. Otherwise you might end up wasting your efforts and making the problem worse.