It wasn't so long ago that an environment-friendly person just had to recycle properly. However, the goal posts have been shifted a long way due to growing concern over the uncomfortable and inconvenient truth of climate change and global warming that is causing a rise in the sea level and abnormal weather, rapid depletion of natural resources, etc. It's simply not eco awareness these days if a person isn't being completely carbon neutral.
In theory, it's a very simple idea. If every single person or entity takes full responsibility for their own carbon emissions, then all the problems stated above go away. Of course, being carbon neutral is a wee bit harder to achieve in reality because it comes far behind a lot of other priorities, if at all.
The biggest problem, however, is that most people still don't know how important this is. That's why most governments and non-profit organizations focus more on raising awareness than on passing laws or forcing people to make choices that are less harmful to the planet. The events held worldwide on Earth Day and Earth Hour are not just to save energy, but to engage millions of people and let them know how they can take responsibility for their own energy consumption and why it's important.
But let's say a person who's now eco-aware wants to lead a green and carbon-neutral lifestyle. It can be done using two methods. The first one is to reduce emissions as far as possible. The second way is to offset whatever there is left over with carbon credits.
Reducing emissions is done by looking at every single aspect of a person's life and activities, and finding ways to make it less harmful to the environment. For example, those who want to eliminate the impact of their vehicle usage can buy electric vehicles and install a solar power generation system to charge the car battery using clean power. It's not easy or cheap to make this transition, but it ends up providing a zero-carbon and free mode of transportation that doesn't need gas.
Usage of energy and other resources within the home can likewise be reduced a lot. A full energy retrofit will cut down the electricity needed and the utility bills. It gets even better in an LEED certified property. For instance, dual-flush tanks in the toilets and artificial grass replacing a lawn will save a lot of water.
Businesses and companies have a corporate responsibility to make the workplace an eco-friendly place for employees through use of natural materials in products that can be recycled, and through various other green practices. Factories with their own solar arrays on rooftops will run on clean power, and paperless offices will reduce deforestation. Pollution can be controlled by recycling industrial waste that would otherwise end up in the rivers and oceans or go to landfills.
Even those who do all this and a lot more besides will still end up with at least some carbon in their column. That's where the credits come into the picture. Do everything possible to reduce personal and corporate emissions, and balance the rest by paying for it. The seller will take the trouble to generate clean power, plant trees or something like that which cuts emissions by an equal amount.
In theory, it's a very simple idea. If every single person or entity takes full responsibility for their own carbon emissions, then all the problems stated above go away. Of course, being carbon neutral is a wee bit harder to achieve in reality because it comes far behind a lot of other priorities, if at all.
The biggest problem, however, is that most people still don't know how important this is. That's why most governments and non-profit organizations focus more on raising awareness than on passing laws or forcing people to make choices that are less harmful to the planet. The events held worldwide on Earth Day and Earth Hour are not just to save energy, but to engage millions of people and let them know how they can take responsibility for their own energy consumption and why it's important.
But let's say a person who's now eco-aware wants to lead a green and carbon-neutral lifestyle. It can be done using two methods. The first one is to reduce emissions as far as possible. The second way is to offset whatever there is left over with carbon credits.
Reducing emissions is done by looking at every single aspect of a person's life and activities, and finding ways to make it less harmful to the environment. For example, those who want to eliminate the impact of their vehicle usage can buy electric vehicles and install a solar power generation system to charge the car battery using clean power. It's not easy or cheap to make this transition, but it ends up providing a zero-carbon and free mode of transportation that doesn't need gas.
Usage of energy and other resources within the home can likewise be reduced a lot. A full energy retrofit will cut down the electricity needed and the utility bills. It gets even better in an LEED certified property. For instance, dual-flush tanks in the toilets and artificial grass replacing a lawn will save a lot of water.
Businesses and companies have a corporate responsibility to make the workplace an eco-friendly place for employees through use of natural materials in products that can be recycled, and through various other green practices. Factories with their own solar arrays on rooftops will run on clean power, and paperless offices will reduce deforestation. Pollution can be controlled by recycling industrial waste that would otherwise end up in the rivers and oceans or go to landfills.
Even those who do all this and a lot more besides will still end up with at least some carbon in their column. That's where the credits come into the picture. Do everything possible to reduce personal and corporate emissions, and balance the rest by paying for it. The seller will take the trouble to generate clean power, plant trees or something like that which cuts emissions by an equal amount.
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