Global Warming and Carbon Offset
First Unitarian Society of Madison has a brochure and information
on calculating
a carbon footprint that you can dowload by clicking
on the lowest buttons to your right. According to our figures, we
produced around
238 tons of CO2 in 2006. The Environmental
Action Committee has chosen to use Native Energy for its carbon
offset efforts in 2007.
They were recently selected as one of only 8 out of 30 such
organizations to receive a top grade from Clean Air/Cool Planet,
based on their effectiveness in translating contributions into carbon
reductions.(2)
If you offset carbon emissions using the NativeEnergy
link, NativeEnergy will
provide a 15% matching contribution toward
FUS's 2007 offset. Half
of the offertory on the weekends of April 7-8,
2007 and April 14-15, 2007
will be dedicated to the goal of achieving
carbon-neutrality for FUS. We hope you will choose to donate
at the collection plate. In
addition, you may wish to offset your own
household's emissions by doing the
following see example:
How Do I Calculate my Personal Carbon Footprint?
You will find a carbon calculator at http://www.nativeenergy.com/fusm. Watch the movie or click on "skip". Under the "individual" tab you'll find options for calculating your personal carbon footprint ("Lifestyle Calculator"), single trip carbon ("Travel Calculator"), or carbon footprint based on US household averages.The table below shows a calculation of the carbon footprint for one FUS member's family:
| Miles | Efficiency | Factor | CO2 lb | % Share | ||||
| Auto 1 | 5,500 miles | X | 26 | x | 19.56 | = | 4,138 | |
| Auto 2 | 9,000 miles | x | 45 | x | 19.56 | = | 3,912 | |
| Subtotal | 14,500 | 8,050 | 20% | |||||
| Plane | 10,000 miles | 1.26 | = | 12,600 | 32% | |||
| Elec/WI | 7,488kWh | x | 1.75 | = | 13,140 | 33% | ||
| Natural Gas | 468 Therms | x | 13.04 | = | 6,103 | 15% | ||
| Total CO2 | 39,893 | |||||||
| 20 tons |
Note: per carbon calculator at NativeEnergy.com
Now that I have calculated my carbon footprint, what can I do about it?
Offset your footprint with a contribution to an organization that supports projects designed to either prevent CO2 emissions, or remove (sequester) CO2 from the atmosphere. There are a variety of programs with different characteristics and costs.
Many utility-sponsored programs are only designed to allow you to offset the emissions resulting from your electricity consumption. Other programs provide the ability to offset your total energy CO2 footprint.(1) FUS 2006 Carbon Footprint per NativeEnergy.com
| Miles | Efficiency | Factor | CO2 lb | Share | ||||
| Auto Travel | 30,000 | X | 30 | X | 19.56 | = | 19,560 | 4% |
| Miles | Factor | CO2 lb | ||||||
| Plane | 56,140 | X | 1.26 | = | 70,736 | 15% | ||
| kWh | Factor | CO2 lb | ||||||
| Electricity/WI | 133,414 | X | 1.75 | = | 234,120 | 49% | ||
| Therms | Factor | CO2 lb | ||||||
| Natural Gas | 11,664 | X | 13.04 | = | 152,088 | 32% | ||
| Total CO2 | 476,504 | lb CO2 | ||||||
| 238 | tons CO2 |
Note: Per carbon calculator at NativeEnergy.com
Carbon Offset Programs and Calculated Cost - figures accurate as of January 1, 2007
Hypothetical Household of 3 has annual carbon footprint of 25 tons CO2 (8 tons from Electricity use alone)
| Cost to
Offset Electricity alone |
Cost to Offset All Energy | |||||||
| 13,000 | kWh | |||||||
| 8 | tons | 25 | tons | |||||
Program |
Your Donation Supports: |
Price |
per |
Elec $ |
Tot Energy $ |
|||
| CarbonFund.org | SD wind farms, CA solar powerplant, industrial efficiency, reforestation in CA, AR, MT | $5.50 | / ton CO2 | $44.00 | $137.50 | |||
| NativeEnergy WindBuilders | Native American-owned SD wind farm, farm methane projects in PA, IA, WI | $12.00 | / ton CO2 | $96.00 | $300.00 | |||
| We Energies Energy for Tomorrow | Landfill gas, wind turbines, water power | $0.0137 | / kWh | $178.10 | N/A | |||
| Renewable Choice | Wind farms - locations unspecified | $22.79 | / ton CO2 | $182.32 | $569.75 | |||
| Alliant Second Nature | Wind farms in MN, WI, IA; landfill methane projects in Midwest | $0.0200 | / kWh | $260.00 | N/A | |||
| Xcel Energy WindSource | SW MN Wind Farms | $0.0200 | / kWh | $260.00 | N/A | |||
| MG&E Wind Power | WI wind farm | $0.0333 | / kWh | $432.90 | N/A | |||
More information available at:
CarbonFund.orgNativeEnergy WindBuilders
We Energies
Renewable Choice
Alliant Second Nature
Xcel Energy WindSource
MG&E Wind Power
Last update 3/24/07
