|
|
© 2011 Colorado Carbon Fund
A greenhouse gas offset, also called a carbon offset, is a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emission levels caused by a specific GHG reduction project. They are different from on-site reductions because they mitigate the emissions of one source (i.e. emissions from your car) by reducing emissions at another location (i.e. a power plant). Funding flows from the original source to the offset project in exchange for mitigated emissions.
We take pride in making sure carbon reduction projects reduce emissions by using two steps: 1) before projects receive CCF support, they must perform above rigorous, third-party validation standards; 2) after a project or program begins operating under a CCF contract, it is required to undergo ongoing third-party monitoring and verification of actual performance and delivery of the offsets, usually on an annual basis.
Simply use the free, online carbon calculators we provide for Individuals, Businesses or Events to estimate your carbon emissions three ways: energy use, air travel and vehicle transportation. Then learn about your carbon footprint from readily available information or enter detailed data about your lifestyle into the formulas provided.
Yes! Every offset you purchase through CCF funds the Climate Trust, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, whose primary mission is to advance climate policy and implement high-quality emissions reduction projects. The Climate Trust was selected by the state of Colorado as a third-party administrator for CCF. This means that your offset contribution will benefit you, your neighbor and the businesses you rely on most.
Currently, the CCF does not have the ability to direct your contribution to a project of your choice. It is difficult to anticipate precisely when and which projects will produce the most effective results. Nevertheless, all CCF reduction projects meet the same high standards for quality and environmental integrity. Each offset we buy and subsequently retire towards your purchase is recorded and accounted for on an individual basis. So you can be assured that your money will always fund a premium carbon-offset project.
Your money goes to support the development and implementation of carbon-offset projects in Colorado. Actual costs vary from project to project. Premium offsets that result from CCF projects may cost more than some alternatives available in the market today. In these cases, high project costs align with CCF’s commitment to quality and environmental integrity on every level.
Quality control is an important issue for carbon offsets. In order to be sure the offset is providing a true benefit to the environment, every offset project must be held to the highest quality standards. High quality offset projects:
No. Offsets, by definition, cancel out emissions. Therefore, when you offset through CCF your overall carbon emissions from driving or home energy use are neutralized.
Currently, there is no federal regulation or criteria for carbon emissions in the United States. At this point, only regional efforts in some states like Colorado actively seek to define and regulate carbon offsets. There are several voluntary certification initiatives that provide a standard for offsets including:
Climate Action Reserve
American Carbon Registry
Voluntary Carbon Standard
Gold Standard
CCF will consider these four programs and determine the best fit for making sure our carbon offsets meet a credible third party’s definition of a high-quality offset.
When the program began it had two names: Project C and the Colorado Carbon Fund (CCF). Project C was to focus on informing the public about energy efficiency and renewable energy and supporting community-based and educational programs, while the CCF was to help Project C with its goals by providing a voluntary offset program. However, as the program advanced the two became interchangeable. After talking to our supporters it became clear the Colorado Carbon Fund resonated with more people and was more recognizable. Therefore, we will continue to do all of our program goals under one name the Colorado Carbon Fund.