tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19111384.post736324646169166415..comments2024-03-24T17:06:47.135-04:00Comments on Story Bones: How carbon offsets workSteve Buchheithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12999709767641212586noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19111384.post-37770059211631221992011-07-04T19:36:39.096-04:002011-07-04T19:36:39.096-04:00Hey Cassie, well, it then pays to deal with entiti...Hey Cassie, well, it then pays to deal with entities that you trust. Some have audit trails (most of them do), all of them say they certify the credits. <br /><br />I have experience with the FSC (Forestry Service Council). You might see that logo on many printed materials (typically in the inside cover or back page). It's a way of certifying that you're using environmentally responsible paper (the paper/printing industry is very environmentally unfriendly, although we are much better than we were just 15 years ago). FSC is an international organization that certifies and verifies the who supply chain from pulp, to recycled materials, to when the printed material leaves the printing plant. We were audited every year to make sure we were in compliance. We had to maintain the record trail. So they as an organization would verify that the printed materials you have were made with environmentally responsible practices.<br /><br />But in the end, unless you're will to audit the company selling you the credit (and some companies do), you'll have to take their word (just as you do when you give to some charities, like Heffer International). <br /><br />As to the price of renewables, I think I have been linking to them throughout the past year (mostly through Tobias Buckell, as he tends to track those things).Steve Buchheithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12999709767641212586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19111384.post-66599723391424154682011-07-01T15:26:30.542-04:002011-07-01T15:26:30.542-04:00What's the agreement with these "agencies...What's the agreement with these "agencies" (not scare tactics, I'm conflating non-profits and businesses)? A contract? Is the offset company paying them for their actions?<br /><br />What's the mechanism if they fail to do what you've paid for? Do you have any evidence that they've done what you purchased?<br /><br />What if a company that sells its unused offset to a company then uses it? <br /><br /><br />Thank you for your explanation. It's clearer than most of the other things I've read, but there are still some unclear links.<br /><br />As for the solar/wind is cheaper than oil, I've heard from several sources it is not the case. I'll look for my sources, but I'd like to see yours.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19111384.post-63577452289421614232011-06-30T21:51:09.963-04:002011-06-30T21:51:09.963-04:00Okay, so you have to do something that increases y...Okay, so you have to do something that increases your carbon footprint. You can do something to balance the scales. <br /><br />Or, if it involves a large amount, or your pressed for time, or if you've already affected what you can... you can pay someone else to do it. <br /><br />So, they plant trees (carbon sink), save forest/wild lands from development, increase use of green technology in 2nd and 3rd world countries (even 1st world countries). All things that reduce the total carbon output of the globe. Since global warming is a global concern, it does help. <br /><br />Would it be better to not increase your carbon footprint? Sure it would. But sometimes that isn't possible. Also, you could spend $200 evening out the score, or your $200 and 30 other people's $200 could outfit a village with solar powered light mats which gives them extended hours to do their work, increasing their productivity/education while reducing their need for either a generator or a larger power plant for the locality.<br /><br />And that scheme has extra benefits. As more solar products are made and developed, they become cheaper and cheaper. Right now wind and solar power are cheaper (per kW) than oil. It's expected now they will be cheaper than NG (second cheapest) and coal (cheapest) in less than a decade.Steve Buchheithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12999709767641212586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19111384.post-3797953801264144662011-06-30T14:55:35.356-04:002011-06-30T14:55:35.356-04:00As an essay why to buy offsets, it's fine. Th...As an essay <i>why</i> to buy offsets, it's fine. The <i>how</i> it works... not. <br /><br />Anonymous CassieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com