Offsetting Explanation ........................................................................................................................................................

What is Offsetting and How Does it Work?

Each time we get on an airplane, drive our car, or turn on a light, carbon dioxide (CO2) is added into the atmosphere. CO2 is a greenhouse gas released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal are burnt.

Everyone has a carbon footprint and while we should all look for ways to reduce that footprint through numerous energy conserving methods from carpooling to cleaning our dryer vents after every load, there will still be that remaining footprint that results from the activities that comprise our lives.

By adding an offsetting component to an energy conserving lifestyle, we essentially pay someone to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere by the same amount that our activities add, thus 'neutralizing' or 'balancing' the CO2 we've added.

NativeEnergy, out of Charlotte, Vermont, is one of a growing number of organizations that offers individuals and companies carbon dioxide offset options. "We offer our customers the ability to help finance construction of projects that reduce global warming pollution by reducing the amount of power generated by burning fossil fuels," states Tom Boucher, President and Chief Executive Officer of NativeEnergy. "The result is that for every kWh generated by a renewable generator, one kWh less is generated by fossil fuel plants. By helping build new clean and renewable energy projects customers reduce CO2 pollution by helping change how our power is made."

Some renewable energy projects, such as Native Energy's family farm methane projects, reduce global warming pollution by reducing the amount of fossil fuels the farms themselves use for heat and cooling, or by preventing emissions of methane gas from manure stored in lagoons.

Click here to download this as a PDF