by Sarah K. Grundy with header photo of sustainable agriculture by REDD+ also, South Pole, Windpower Engineering & Development
So, we’re Climate Neutral certified, but what exactly does that mean and why does it matter?
Did you know that the rapid increase in carbon emissions trapped in our atmosphere is the primary cause of global climate change? These unnatural shifts in our environment are impeding the health, life, and habitat of both humans and animals.
Through our partnership with Climate Neutral, we’re taking immediate action and offsetting 100% of our own carbon emissions, through supporting projects that reduce the world’s footprint.
Our efforts include financially supporting projects in sustainable agriculture and ecotourism economies to reduce nearby deforestation, projects supporting biodiversity, community development, renewable energy, methane gas conversion from landfills, and so much more!
We’re SO excited to support six projects focused on conserving a biodiverse forest in Cambodia, advancing clean cookstove use in Mali, supporting geothermal power generation in Indonesia, and capturing landfill methane and generating renewable energy in the US. Each project is independently verified, ensuring they’re effectively protecting our climate.
Develops sustainable agriculture and ecotourism economies to reduce dependence on deforestation in the Cardamom forest. The Cardamom forest is a biodiversity hotspot and home to over 50 threatened species including clouded leopards and Asian elephants. Recognizing that clearing land is a primary source of income for local communities, the project focuses on alternative economic developments to alleviate pressure on this diverse ecosystem. The project supports additional community development by expanding healthcare options, creating local scholarship funds for students, and providing community training programs specifically for women.
Many households in Mali use wood-burning stoves, which contribute to local deforestation. Inefficient wood-burning stoves can also cause poor indoor air quality for households. The Bamako Clean Cookstoves project strives to replace inefficient wood-burning stoves with more efficient Sewa stoves. These stoves can reduce wood and charcoal burning by 30-40% and improve indoor air quality by reducing emissions. The stoves are made locally, contributing to the community's economy. Additionally, the efficient stoves help make cooking faster and safer, which helps free up time primarily for women in the community. The stoves also create benefits for local ecosystems by reducing deforestation and emissions associated with charcoal production.
Gunung Salak Geotherman Power Plant
The goal of this project is to enhance the efficiency of three turbines at the Gunung Salak Geotherman Power Plant to help reduce Indonesia's growing dependence on fossil fuels. Indonesia is home to over 150 active volcanoes and about 40% of the world's geothermal energy reserves. To date, most of this renewable resource has not been developed. This project could help Indonesia develop sustainable energy solutions as the country's energy needs continue to grow. The project also supports Indonesia's economy by hiring locally and has invested in transportation infrastructure in the local community.
Dempsey Ridge Wind Project
The goal of the Dempsey Ridge Wind Project is to generate wind energy near Cheyenne, Oklahoma to reduce dependence on fossil fuel energy. Located across both Beckham and Roger Mills counties, the farm has 66 wind turbines that span 7,500 acres of agricultural land. The wind farm generates up to 132 megawatts of energy, which helps power approximately 46,000 homes per year on renewable energy sources. This corresponds to a reduction of nearly 225,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year. Renewable energy generation is a reliable solution to climate change because it helps displace our reliance on energy from fossil fuels. This project expands renewable energy production to reduce dependence on traditional electricity sources and stimulates local job creation.
Winchester Landfill Gas to Energy Project
The goal of the Winchester Landfill Gas to Energy Project is to reduce methane emissions from a landfill in the Washington, DC area from entering our atmosphere. This is important because methane emissions are roughly 30 times stronger than carbon dioxide emissions. According to the EPA, landfills are currently the third-largest contributor to anthropogenic methane emissions across the country. This project captures and converts enough methane gas to generate 15,000 megawatt-hours of electricity per year. This reduces dependence on additional fuel sources, and also prevents these landfill gases from entering the atmosphere.
Hebei Guyuan Wind Energy Project
The Hebei Guyuan Wind Energy Project located in the North China Plain consists of 133 wind turbines with a capacity of 199.5 MW. The project uses wind resources to supply clean, renewable electricity to the grid North China Power Grid (NCPG). The electricity generated from this project displaces part of the electricity from the NCPG which is predominantly generated by coal-fired power plants that are pervasive in the region. The project construction and ongoing project maintenance creates job opportunities for local people, helping to stimulate economic growth in the region.
If you haven’t already read our blog on how we calculated our carbon emissions from 2020, take a look at our deep-dive analysis of our footprint and plans to reduce it this year!