Carbon Offsets

Despite our best efforts to reduce our global warming pollution, none of us is able to eliminate all carbon emissions. Carbon offsets counteract unavoidable carbon emissions by funding projects that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Offset means “neutralize,” “balance,” or “cancel out.” You can neutralize your carbon emissions by participating in one of the programs below, or click here for even more carbon offset opportunities.

CarbonCounter.org

A joint project of The Climate Trust and Mercy Corps, CarbonCounter.org has a two minute online test enabling you to determine the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) you emit. After determining your impact – measured in tons of CO₂ emitted per year – you can then donate to projects and programs that offset your CO₂ emissions. Donations support various carbon offset projects, including support for wind and other renewable energy, home and building energy efficiency, reforestation and forest preservation, and transportation efficiency improvements. The tax-deductible donations also support Mercy Corps' global development and disaster relief programs, including projects that counter the impacts of climate change on people in developing nations.

Natural Gas Offsets

If you are a customer of NW Natural you have a new way to offset all the natural gas you use in your home or business. By joining Smart Energy, you will reduce CO2 emissions by an average of 8,000 pounds. Smart Energy will use your monthly contribution for high quality projects like the development of biogas, where cow manure and sewer sludge is turned into energy. Methane from manure is 23 times as potent a greenhouse gas as carbon dioxide.

Travel Cool! Carbon Offsets

The Better World Club – a company providing travel services, auto insurance, and car and bicycle roadside assistance – pioneered the Travel Cool! carbon offset program

in order to give air passengers a means to combat greenhouse gas emissions. A small tax-free donation with every flight helps protect the environment. Your donation goes to the Better World Travel Foundation, which carefully screens and helps fund local carbon dioxide offset projects that neutralize the emissions contributing to global warming. You can purchase an offset each time you fly, or if you join the Better World Club, you receive the offset for free each time you book a flight through the club.

Carbon offsets are also provided for free if you purchase auto insurance. If you join the Better World Club, enter this promotion code (OREC0001), which tells them the Oregon Environmental Council sent you.

Green Tags

You can offset the polluting effects of your energy use by supporting the development of clean renewable energy through the purchase of “Green Tags.” Green Tags are created when wind power or other renewable energy is substituted for traditional power. The result is a shift away from our dependence on burning fossil fuel to produce electricity. Using clean renewable energy is friendly to the environment and reduces emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Green Tags represent the real savings in carbon dioxide and other pollutants that occur when green power replaces burning fossil fuel. Green Tag purchases are tax deductible, and Bonneville Environmental Foundation, the non-profit behind Green Tags, can tell you exactly which wind and solar facilities are producing your Green Tags, how much they've generated, and when. The BEF Carbon Calculator can be used to estimate a complete carbon footprint (electricity, gas, auto and air travel) and to purchase Green Tags as offsets to any part or all of your footprint.