Reducing your Carbon Footprint
February 27, 2023
6 Ways to Reduce your Carbon Footprint
We all have a role to play in transitioning to a lower carbon lifestyle. Here are some ways you can contribute:
- Reduce the amount of food waste you produce by buying only what you need and eating all of your leftovers,
- Sign up for a renewable electricity plan, if available in your area,
- Consume products from companies that have Net-Zero goals, and are delivering on them,
- Commute by car or plane when you need too, but try to minimize travel impact via online collaboration, carpools, public transportation, and efficient automobiles,
- Turn off lights, electronics, and appliances when not in use to avoid using more energy than necessary,
- Choose reusable items such as cloth napkins instead of paper ones, reusable water bottles instead of plastic ones, and cloth shopping bags instead of plastic ones!
Carbon Credits are a vital bridge to Net-Zero
The transition to Net Zero is going to take time. We need existing technologies deployed at scale, new technologies to reduce cost, and some changes in consumption. Purchasing carbon offsets allows us to have an impact, today. ZeroTrace provides a user-friendly calculator that allows you to quantify your emissions are and then choose how much, and how often, you would like to offset your emissions.
What You Should Know About Carbon Offsets
February 22, 2023
What is a Carbon Offset?
Carbon offsetting is a way to neutralize your (or your household’s or business’s) carbon dioxide emissions by supporting projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Carbon credits take the form of avoided carbon dioxide emissions or carbon removals. Not for profit third parties such as the American Carbon Registry, the Climate Action Reserve, and Verra publish peer reviewed methodologies that establish crediting mechanisms for carbon projects. Many of these are Nature Based Solutions (NCS) which protect habitats that capture carbon such as trees, soil, grassland, and other natural solutions. ZeroTrace is currently investing only in Nature Based Solutions which have been verified by the American Carbon Registry. Engineered solutions such as carbon capture and storage (CCS), direct air capture (DAC), waste biomass to energy, and biochar may also be utilized as these technologies mature and scale
Carbon Offsets and the Environment - How They Work
Carbon offsets provide a mechanism for individuals and organizations to mitigate impact of their carbon emissions; ZeroTrace provides an easy way for our users to access this powerful tool. Here’s how it works:
- By purchasing a carbon credit, ZeroTrace users send a “price signal” to the market, letting groups such as the Nature Conservancy know that individuals value emission reduction projects such as Doe Mountain. Without price signals, these projects would not be developed.
- Rigorous processes – such as those defined by the American Carbon Registry – verify the amount of carbon emissions that were avoided or removed by each project, resulting in issuance of carbon credits.
- ZeroTrace retires these carbon credits on behalf of users.
- The cycle repeats.
The Paris accord and supporting research recognize that the energy transition will require a multifaceted approach that includes:
- energy efficiency,
- nature based solutions,
- and carbon capture & sequestration.
Carbon credits are a key mechanism to help deliver on these goals through nature based solutions, but individuals and organizations should pursue multiple paths to reduce their emissions and live sustainably.