Who Do We Believe?
This is one of the hottest topics in the business world currently and for many is seen as the only answer to the carbon / climate challenge we face.
Clearly, on its own, Carbon off-setting is not the only answer, and in fact is often pitched as this because it seems like an "easy answer" to climate change.
Freesource Energy Categorically state that Carbon offsetting is ONLY a last resort and ONLY once people and organisations have made every effort to change their behaviour more sustainably.
What's more, Freesource insist Carbon Offsetting should be "Gold Standard" offsetting, which is an independently verified Carbon Offsetting body with stringent criteria and measurement.
What Is The Gold Standard?
The Gold Standard were set up in 2003 with a mission to ensure any offsetting did what is said it was doing. In a world where numerous organisations were selling offsets which could not be measured or garanteed there was too much corruption and the Gold Standard sets out rules and a framework to avoid this.
The Gold Standard Offset scheme is backed by over 50 NGO's including the WWF and Greenpeace and insists on clear "additionality" from its projects, which genuinely benefit communities in a sustainable way and not just "business as usual".
What Are Your Offsetting Options?
1. Contact us and ask for our Gold Standard Registered partner.
2. You could look close to home and find a local need for your investment. When you find one, contact us and we can tell you whether it qualifies as a Gold Standard Offset Scheme.
What Do We Mean By Local investment?
Often Carbon offsetting money goes abroad and funds projects or plants trees - some are good, some are not so good.
In the UK there are lots of projects in progress or waiting to happen where funds are desperately needed.
You could make a difference, help someone else, save carbon AND reap the benefits of the good publicity in your own area.
Does This Mean Freesource Is Offering A Carbon offsetting service?
As a way of putting people in touch with funds or projects yes.
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Things To Do Before You Offset
Have you examined your business:
- Process
- Building Infrastructure
- Behaviour
- Working Environment
Can you change anything cut your impact on the environment? Have you REALLY assessed the savings you can make?
Energy Efficiency Comes First!
Then try Renewable Energy and make your own power or heating from natural sources.
Carbon Footprinting
To get the best from Carbon Offsetting you need to know where your carbon emissions are. With a nominal price of £26/tonne placed on carbon set to rise to £60/tonne in 2008, it could save you a lot of money to get this worked out.
We can put you in touch with Carbon Coaches to help you work out your footprint - then tackle it by saving and generating, THEN look at Offsetting!
If you need help with energy efficiency we recommend these organisations to help you save energy first:
Small Businesses
Envirowise
WRAP
NISP
Larger Businesses
Carbon Trust
WRAP
NISP
What To Do Next
If you would like to:
- Know more about our thoughts on carbon offsetting
- Have a project requiring funding
- Are a business who is ready to look into Offsetting and has exhausted other forms of energy saving
Please fill in the form on our Contact page. |
