We created a menu of express offset packages for those individuals who want a quick and easy solution to the environmental impacts of certain activities within their daily lives. Our Green-e Climate® certified carbon offsets take real, verifiable and measurable actions against climate change. The carbon footprint for each menu item is based on average estimates (as described below) and actual conversion data provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The following is a detailed description on how we arrived at our calculations.

Student package (3 tons carbon offset). We have estimated that students and other low impact persons drive their car approximately 200 miles per month and use an estimated 225 kWh per month of electricity at home/dorm. We arrive at an estimated 3 tons of annual carbon emissions using the following calculations: 1. Driving: (200 miles/month x 12 months)/19.7 mpg (avg US car mpg) x 19.423 (lbs of CO2 emitted per gallon of gasoline combusted) = 2,366 lbs CO2. 2. Home/dorm: 225 kWh /month x 12 months x 1.363 lbs CO2/kWh (avg lbs CO2 emitted in US per kWh used) = 3,680 lbs. CO2. The total is 2,366 + 3,680 = 6,046 lbs CO2 (or approx 3 tons).

Small/Medium Car (5 tons carbon offset). The average mileage driven per year in the US is 12,000 miles. We estimate that the average small/medium size car gets 23.3 miles per gallon. We arrive at an estimated 5 tons of annual carbon emissions using the following calculations: 12,000 miles per year/23.3 mpg x 19.423 (lbs CO2 emitted per gallon of gasoline combusted) = 10,003 lbs CO2 (or approx 5 tons).

Large Car/SUV (8 tons carbon offset). The average mileage driven per year in the US is 12,000 miles. We estimate that the average large car or SUV gets 14.6 miles per gallon. We arrive at an estimated 8 tons of annual carbon emissions using the following calculations: 12,000 miles per year/14.6 mpg x 19.423 (lbs CO2 emitted per gallon of gasoline combusted) = 15,964 lbs CO2 (or approx 8 tons).

Apartment/Small Home (5 tons carbon offset). We estimate that the average apartment or small home uses approximately 600 kWh of electricity per month. We arrive at an estimated 5 tons of annual carbon emissions using the following calculations: 600 kWh/month x 12 months x 1.363 lbs CO2/kWh (avg lbs CO2 emitted in US per kWh used) = 9,813 lbs CO2 (or approx 5 tons).

Large Home (11 tons carbon offset). We estimate that the average large home uses approximately 1300 kWh of electricity per month. We arrive at an estimated 11 tons of annual carbon emissions using the following calculations: 1300 kWh/month x 12 months x 1.363 lbs CO2/kWh (avg lbs CO2 emitted in US per kWh used) = 21,263 lbs CO2 (or approx 11 tons).

References:

1. US EPA calculations and references page (www.epa.gov/solar/energy-resources/refs.html)
2. eGRID2006 Version 2.1 (April 2007). Further information can be found at: www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/egrid/index.html