To buy a carbon footprint offset, you could write a check. There are organizations that will take your money and purchase carbon credits on the open market. It sounds easy, but what is really happening? You only know you are making a real difference if you actually reduce your output of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
It is the opinion of this site that for an effective carbon footprint offset, you should actually do something real. There are many things you can do that are not complicated. You might find for example that driving an electric car, walking, or biking is fun, good for you, good for the town you live in, and good for the planet.
First, take a look at how far your trips are. Are they short, or are they long? It happens that most trips people make are short, 5 miles or less.
1. Consolidate your trips. Its easy to do, just make more than one stop when out and about. It saves time too. Try not to start the car for just one short trip unless it’s really bad weather or an emergency.
2. Get a fuel efficient vehicle. It will burn a lot less gas and put a lot less junk into the air.
3. Drive an electric car. It will put zero carbon into the air. If you are concerned about the carbon used to generate the electricity for your EV, check the box for “Green Energy” on your utility bill…still simple. It may be a while, but renewable energies will eventually be used to power our grid and cars. The US for example is installing more wind turbines every quarter.
4. Take the train, bus, walk, or bike…especially on those shorter trips. The air will thank you, and after you get used to it, you will feel great and your carbon offset footprint will be something real.
Acidic Oceans
One reason it is important to help reduce CO2 in the air is that our oceans are becoming more and more acidic with time. Since the dawn of the insustrial age, world oceans have increased some 30% in acidity. The trend continues, and are forecast to continue, regardless.
Increased acidity of ocean water will affect oceanic creatures and plants
Carbon Footprint Offset is a buzz phrase for those interested in reducing their personal "footprint" - their impact on the air. Where to start? Transportation is a good place to start.
A lot of the pollutants that go into our air are expelled from private cars and trucks. So, what can you do? The math may be complicated, but the answer is simple.
First of all, it’s useful to realize that for every gallon of gasoline that your vehicle uses, about 20 pounds of stuff (CO2 and other gases) goes into the air we breathe. This is the carbon that you want to offset. This is the transportation part of your carbon footprint; maybe the toes, maybe more. To calculate your actual transportation impact:
1.Write down or estimate how many gallons of gas you put in your vehicle per year
2.Multiply the number of gallons by 20
3.This is the number of pounds of CO2 you are responsible for
4.This is what you want to offset
Converting CO2 into Fuel
There is research and some success in turning CO2 into Methanol and other fuels.
