No, as much as I would like to have one, I don’t (yet) drive a Prius.  Although my vehicle isn’t a monster-hog, it certainly could be “lighter on the planet.”  And, even a Prius creates some CO2.  But I’ve discovered a few systems whereby you can offset your personal CO2 emissions. 

What’s an offset?  An offset is tucking away greenhouse gas molecules in proportion to what your activities release.  Carbon sequestration is the fancy name for it.  A growing tree, a methane gas recapture facility, are examples of greenhouse gas offsets.  The molecules of gas which would otherwise rise to the upper levels of the atmosphere and contribute to global warming, are captured and put to other uses. 

How much CO2 do I emit?  Here’s an online carbon calculator which includes more customizations than most, calculating household energy, ground travel, air travel, and waste. 

TerraPass offers a system by which you can offset your personal emissions.  To the degree that your personal activities generate CO2 emissions - as measured by what car you drive - you send TerraPass a check (they send you a nifty magnetic sticker for your car).  TerraPass collects the funds, and finances clean energy and carbon sequestration projects.

CarbonFund.org offers a carbon calculator, based upon your electricity, gas, heating and transportation bills.  They too fund clean energy and carbon sequestration projects, as well as offering education.  They send you a pen rather than a cute sticker.

CarbonFund is a not-for-profit organization, which means that most of the funds collected have to be put to the charitable purpose they are claiming.  TerraPass is a for-profit company, which rankled a bit with me.  They claim they only keep 10% for their investors, but they say nothing about how much their operating costs are.  I like the cute sticker idea, because it publicizes the fact that one can offset to others who view the sticker.  Too bad the non-profit doesn’t do stickers (but when I emailled them they said they soon will).

Both are rather Big Business solutions to environmental issues.  CarbonFund works with CERES, a network of major U.S. businesses, and TerraPass has the endorsement of everybody who’s anybody, from the NYTimes to BusinessWeek.  But the way I see it, either way is a good thing.

No, it doesn’t give us absolution to go buy a Hummer.  Contributing funds to CO2 sequestration projects doesn’t justify obscene abuse. 

Nor does it offer a real solution to the problem. The problem will only begin to end when we reduce the emissions we create.  But I can’t run out tomorrow and replace my standard vehicle with a zero emissions vehicle.  A true zero emissions vehicle does not yet exist on the marketplace.  And even if I did, someone else would buy my current vehicle and continue emitting. 

So I see participating in getting more CO2 sequestration projects off the ground as a great interim step, a wonderful idea in a Transition world.

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