Considering my earlier post was on green hosting, I figured I would look at the link below to see how they went green.
http://interactiveonline.com/images/stories/renewable-energy-certificate-2009.png
I admit while being a green person, I am not really aware of how many tons of carbon I make on my own. My philosophy has been to recycle, reuse, and reduce and make changes as I go. So I thought I would find out how much 8 metric tons of carbon offsets are going to effect. Turns out not much. I decided to contact begreennow.com by phone to find out the cost of 8 tons of carbon offsets. Honestly I was a little surprised at how low it was and how fast I got the answer.
Guess how much that cost them to get? 1 metric ton is $15 (though after an email I find out it was $14). How green is Interactiveonline.com? Apparently $112 worth. This does not amount up to much. You can try begreennow.com’s carbon calculator, though you better have a car that was built no later then 2000 other wise they will not have your car. Just picking the nations average on home electricity and natural gas I get 10.6 metric tons.
http://www.begreennow.com/reduce-offset/carbon-calculator/
I don’t think begreennow.com’s calculator is the best set up, but I think its safe to say that interactiveonline.com’s tree planting is not doing a lot to offset their electricity use. Though after a look through their terms of service I find:
We will plant a tree for every new direct customer that signs up for our Green Hosting package. Interactive Online does not do the actual planting of the tree. Instead we donate $1 for every new customer to plantabillion.org
Apparently Begreennow.com is not the only company they work with, so why is interactiveonline.com not showing how many trees they have planted so far? Small customer list? Or is this the Carbon Offsets they buy? So far this part of the terms of service and the link to 8 metric ton certificate are all that Interactiveonline.com in regards to information.
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RE: carbon offsets
From: H, Jennifer
Sent: Tue 6/22/10 12:44 PM
To: Benjamin
Benjamin,
Here is a little information of the specific offset project we have in inventory:
Tyson Wastewater Treatment Methane Capture
Description: Tyson Foods, Inc. is the world’s largest supplier of protein, operating poultry, swine, and beef processing plants. Over 100 million gallons of wastewater from these plants is treated each day at facilities owned and operated by Tyson. Traditionally held in uncovered anaerobic lagoons, wastewater releases methane (CH4) as organic matter degrades. Methane emissions trap 21 times more heat than CO2 emissions in the atmosphere. Tyson has installed methane flares at 5 wastewater treatment facilities to convert methane into less-harmful CO2. Additionally, Tyson has installed energy recovery technology at 4 out of the 5 facilities to convert methane into steam for their boilers.
Certification: Voluntary Carbon Standard
Locations: Illinois, Nebraska, Texas, & Iowa
You can order online at:
http://www.begreennow.com/store/home.php?cat=265
They are working on the site as we speak so 1st the cost per offset is $14.00, not changed to $15.00 yet and they are adding new security features. You should be able to order in the next couple of hours or I can take your information over the phone and mail you a certificate of purchase.
Sorry for the inconvenience. Let me know if you have any additional questions.
J Humphries
Sales Operations Coordinator, Environmental Products
Green Mountain Energy Company
P.O. Box 689008
Austin, TX 78768
Office: (512) 691-6318
Fax: (512) 691-6353
Be part of the solution at www.greenmountain.com
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From: Benjamin
Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 2:27 PM
To: H, Jennifer
Subject: carbon offsets
Hello again Jennifer,
I just wanted to clarify that its $15 per metric ton, and do you have a link I can look at for this and perhaps order?
Regards,
Benjamin
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I am not sure I will ever look at chicken the same way again. I would have found the cost out if I would have clicked on the “Offset My Emissions” button. I am not a big fan of emissions offsets, after all Interactiveonline.com is using it to say they are a green host (despite they only show a certificate for 8 metric tons). But the truth of the matter is they are paying someone else to be green for them. Rather small amount that it is to claim they are a green company. I am not sure I am a fan of begreennow.com either, as there only method for countering pollution is to sell you the right to have someone else do it for you.
