Concerned about the environment? You can make your natural gas consumption carbon neutral by choosing a gas plan that includes carbon offsets. Below, you can learn about carbon emissions and how you can make your natural gas plan carbon neutral.
What are Carbon Emissions?
Natural gas is a fossil fuel. Burning natural gas, like you do in your furnace, water heater, dryer or other gas appliances, generates carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon dioxide is one of the “green house gasses” that block the sun and contribute to global warming.
If you are concerned about your carbon footprint and want to help contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions, a carbon neutral natural gas plan may be for you.
How Can a Natural Gas Plan be Carbon Neutral?
You can have a carbon neutral gas plan when supplier purchases carbon offsets on your behalf.
Your natural gas supplier will calculate the amount of carbon dioxide that you generate with your natural gas consumption. They do this using data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Your supplier will then purchase carbon offsets equivalent to the emissions generated through your home’s natural gas consumption.
While it doesn’t directly make your natural gas green, carbon offsets help support green energy projects and the reduction of greenhouse gases. It’s a great way to do your part to reduce greenhouse gas.
Shop Carbon Neutral Natural Gas Plans in Ohio
What is a Carbon Offset?
A carbon offset is a certificate representing an reduction in one metric ton (2,205 pounds) of carbon dioxide emissions. These carbon offsets are financial instruments, created through projects around the world. Purchase of carbon offsets helps fund clean energy projects.
A carbon offset is a reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide made in order to offset an emission made elsewhere.
There are three methods to create a carbon offset.
- Capture and destroy a greenhouse gas that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere.
- Produce energy using a renewal resource that eliminates the burning of fossil fuels
- Capture and store (or “sequester”) greenhouse gases to prevent their release into the atmosphere.
You can find more information on the differences between carbon offsets and renewable energy certificates on the EPA’s website, EPA.gov.