You probably know what a carbon offset program is. Just in case, here is the gist. You are doing something that you know is going to generate carbon dioxide into the air (anything-like driving, flying, even using electricity) you can offset it. How? Well you can log onto a number of carbon offset sites, or in the case of a plane ticket, you can often offset by paying a little extra when you book your ticket. How does it work? Say you are going on a trip. You can figure out how much extra carbon you are going to generate, then by buying carbon offsets, a third party will plant trees or fund a wind turbine, or buy credits that will balance out the extra carbon that you are putting into the air. Most of these programs work by planting trees in some far off land, but that is okay because the atmosphere is a global thing. Someone in Cleveland thought, why not do something here at home? If Cleveland citizens want to offset their carbon use, why don’t we off set it with programs that can be put in place right here in NE Ohio! Enter the Cleveland Carbon Fund:
As the first community-based, open-access carbon reduction fund in the United States, the Cleveland Carbon Fund invests in local community projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and spark economic development in Cleveland. The Fund provides an easy, highly transparent option for anyone wishing to play a role in reducing carbon emissions. By investing in the Cleveland Carbon Fund, donors can be assured their worthy contributions are making sustainable, positive change in local Cleveland neighborhoods.
The latest program that is born from the CCF, is the Detroit Shoreway Carbon Crash. What the heck? DSCC is a program where residents of the Detroit Shoreway can replace their light bulbs (up to 12 per household) with CFLs for free. CFLs are awesome, and I have written about them many times. Using less energy, producing the same amount of light and cool to the touch, CFLs rock. Now, the Eco Village is trying out this new program as a way to lower the carbon emissions from coal burning electricity plants by helping its residents use less energy. To make sure the plan works, they are asking you to “opt in” meaning you are willing to show them your electric bill over the course of a few months to show whether or not this program is truly effective. Neighborhood and student volunteers will come to your home and install these bulbs for you and tell you a little more about how to save. Supplies of these bulbs are limited, so get on board today. Call Lilah Zautner at 216-961-4242 ext. 227 or email her at Lzautner@dscdo.org for more information. Not in Detroit Shoreway? Maybe you can find out how to start this program in your neighborhood!
Spiral CFL
