Hocking Hills, OH –
For the past sixteen weeks I have been writing green tips to encourage and help people from all shades of green to be more green. These tips have been aimed at the "new to green" to the "doing some green" to the "established green". From the beginning I indicated that these tips would be simple and easy, tips that can be implemented by almost anyone. Many of these tips don't cost any money, but in fact save your money, someone else's money and most importantly, save the environment.
In summary, most of the tips discussed so far can be implemented by everyone at little to no cost. Some of these tips are: recycling, reusing, buying used or borrowing, not using as much product, purchasing durable goods, fixing things when they are broken, using reusable water bottles, using reusable bags, reducing energy consumption at home and work, using CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs), planting "green" seeds wherever you go (encourage businesses and individuals to make another step towards green).
It is important that every individual, business, institution and organization does what is possible. Some things such as organic food, recycled toilet paper, all-natural/biodegradable cleaning products might cost a little bit more money than their counterpart, but are worth the little bit extra from a cost/benefit standpoint. Hopefully with the money your are saving from the tips above, you can start to gradually purchase some of these items that cost a little bit more money but are better for your health and the environment.
Last week's tip mentioned alternative energy such as solar, wind, and geothermal. That article also mentioned carbon offsets. Carbon offsets do cost a little bit of money (not as much as one might think), but I encourage those who can afford these offsets to be a leader and to do it.
What exactly is a carbon offset and how does it work? Well, an offset is something that counterbalances. So, for example, the energy used in most homes, businesses and cars come from dirty sources of energy such as coal and/or natural gas. These dirty energy sources put CO2 (carbon dioxide) into the environment that is a cause of global warming. By purchasing carbon offsets you can support and/or help to build new renewable energy projects such as wind, methane capture, landfill capture that counter these harmful emissions and reduce your global warming pollution to zero.
For my business, I have used Native Energy to carbon offset the emissions for both of my lodging units. Carbon offset programs have simple calculators to help you figure out how much you need to offset. With Native Energy I decided to put 50% of my offset to Wind Farms and 50% to Methane Farms (gases captured from farm animal manure). Native Energy will take my money and help to support the existing wind and methane farms and/or use the money to build new projects. The Wind and Methane Farms will send clean, emission free energy to an electricity grid. The more alternative clean energies that go to that electricity grid instead of fossil fueled electricity means less fossil fuel is used and also reduced CO2 pollution. In other words, renewable energy projects help to change how our power is made.
The really great thing about carbon offsets is that you can offset in so many ways. There are simple calculators to help you offset your apartment, home, business, and organization. There are also travel calculators so you can offset your travel by car, plane, rail and bus. You can even offset a conference or event! Offsets are open and available to anyone. One fun idea is to involve your children by having them invest some of their allowance in carbon offsets perhaps energy used at their school or their bus ride to and from school. Go online with them and show them how it works.
1. Native Energy www.nativeenergy.com
2. Terrapass www.terrapass.com
These web sites are very interesting and provide much more detail and diagrams on carbon offsets. You can even see the types and locations of specific alternative energy sources. It's simple to make a purchase. Just go online, fill out some very basic information and make a payment.
Collectively we really do make a difference. Please do whatever you can do to help curb global warming and keep the world clean and safe for us and for many generations to come.
Byline Bio: Gwen Corbett, Bear's Den Cottages
www.bearsdencottages.com, Green Lodging
Helping Individuals and Businesses To Go Green