This is a guest post by Matt Feldman of Carbon Neutral Digest.

One of the major issues, or myths, surrounding carbon offsets is that it allows people and companies to pollute and then, just for a few dollars, “balance it out.” My take on this conundrum is that it doesn’t matter if this belief is factual or just an urban legend of the modern times, there is still some benefit for the environment.

So let’s paint a picture of the worst polluter you know. Mr. A drives an H2, he leaves all their incandescent light bulbs on 24 hours a day, he has the temperature set in is house to 68 in the summer and 80 in the winter. I already know that you hate this guy because I do too.

One day Mr. A sits down in front of his computer (which he leaves on 24/7) and finds a carbon offset provider that he likes and offsets his carbon. Mr. A spends $150.00 buys Renewable Energy Credits, plants trees, or helps build a wind turbine. Mr. A, in a small way has helped make the world a little better by funding one of these offset projects. Yes green nerds, I am not fond of every offset project that is out there. Some offset projects are better then others but for this example it doesn’t matter. If Mr. A. does nothing else, he has helped to do something positive for the environment.
Read More »Carbon offsetting is beneficial to the environment