1. Comment by Samantha @ Feb 26, 2007 4 AM

That is awesome! Hopefully this will raise even more awareness and they will hopefully buy renewals next year!

2. Comment by boredtotears @ Feb 26, 2007 6 AM

Probably the dullest, dumbest Osacr show in years. To think that these vapid left coast airheads are influencing our children is frightening.

3. Comment by Bo Kaufman @ Feb 26, 2007 7 AM

We are home builders and residential land developers in the Washington Metro Area. While we have a great environmental record, we could do even more. How can we use Terrapass for our new home communities. Can we buy credits for our communities?
Bob
Look up www.Augustinehomes.com

4. Comment by Anonymous @ Feb 26, 2007 7 AM

Bravo!
What an awesome idea to donate 100,000 lbs of CO2 reductions. Let’s hope all these people carry on their own and pass along their knowledge to all of their family and friends.

5. Comment by knj @ Feb 26, 2007 8 AM

While it might be nice for some to read about “stars” who have TerraPasses, aren’t we missing the point? We should be purchasing the passes for more altruistic reasons than to be grouped with “famous people” who were gifted the passes.

6. Comment by Anne @ Feb 26, 2007 8 AM

You forgot Clive Owen in your list. He was a presenter. Star of “Children of Men” and nominee for “Closer”!!!

7. Comment by Alon @ Feb 26, 2007 9 AM

Adam,

You guys never cease to amaze me. Thank you for what you do in the world. I never watch the Oscars, but I certainly would have if I knew something so meaningful was happening under the spotlights.

Alon

8. Comment by dangerouspenguin @ Feb 26, 2007 9 AM

Congratulations on getting famous. I wouldn’t watch the Oscars if you paid me, but was there any mention of the passes to the audience? Did the folks at home hear all about it?

9. Comment by lora bruncke @ Feb 26, 2007 10 AM

What wonderful news! The TerraPass is a way to fund our future survival. You are now in the limelight of those with lots of cash to help save the planet
I was at a Dr. David Suzuki venue, and we cheered when we got the news that Mr. Al Gore won! I was disappointed when I heard he would not go for the oval office.
I do respect his decision and hope he at least offers major advice to the democratic party! Go Democrats! Go Gore!

10. Comment by Aaron A. @ Feb 26, 2007 10 AM

I like the book. It’s accessible enough that it could apply to almost any upper-class community in America, but at the same time, it doesn’t suggest that Nicole Kidman should carpool.

Also, I get the feeling that, at least where climate change is concerned, some of these celebs are speaking out of that most nefarious of body cavities; your booklet provides some useful facts, without becoming a mind-numbing melange of statistics.

11. Comment by Lisa @ Feb 26, 2007 11 AM

I’m so thrilled that the Oscar’s took a GREEN turn this year! Congrats TerraPass for your contribution to “wake up” the masses!

12. Comment by Dave Massen @ Feb 26, 2007 11 AM

Very nice work. The handbook emphasizing conservation is especially cool. A coup for TerraPass and the environment.

13. Comment by Janine Kendrick @ Feb 26, 2007 1 PM

Good job!! You should be proud of your organizations hard work. You can see the passion in your website!!

14. Comment by Jim @ Feb 26, 2007 1 PM

We shifted to CFL’s in every light fixture that would accept the base (39). The bulbs were very inexpensive in packs of 4 at Home Depot. We cut all our timers on all outside lights to a minimum and we added attic insulation to bring house up to R-38. Got a new refrig that cut energy 1/3. We restrict our car use as much as we can and don’t do single trips. We signed on to TERRAPASS to cover both cars and the house. I would like to invest in a windmill in another area as we can’t place here, just don’t know where to find out about something like that.

15. Comment by David Gorman @ Feb 26, 2007 1 PM

Nice!

16. Comment by Ranger @ Feb 26, 2007 3 PM

By the way, congratulations on the great news with the Oscars! Great great work.

17. Comment by MNWalleye @ Feb 26, 2007 6 PM

Say Adam, did you happen to see the story that’s hitting several web sites today? http://www.tennesseepolicy.org/main/article.php?article_id=367

Tennessee Policy is claiming that Al Gore uses more then 20 times the energy then the national average. Can we get to the bottom of this? Is there anyway to really find out what Al Gores personal carbon footprint is?

thank you,

MNWalleye carbon footprint 6.45

18. Comment by Woody @ Feb 26, 2007 9 PM

At last, just plain good sense in an industry that is famous for so much bling & infamous for its lack of being grounded in the real world. Kudos to TerraPass for being centrally involved, Adam!

Gore’s more responsible for the sea change that has brought global warming to the main stage than anyone. He should definitely stay away from the rip-you-apart world of politics now that he has found his true calling & has won such success. A President must be a multitasker & a delegator. Al needs to stay full time with what he does best, preserving & building on the reputation that he has achieved. He will certainly have the (Democratic) President’s ear. Keeping this position of respect is immensely important. He could eclipse even David Suzuki in terms of effecting change globally.

P.S. Gore’s total carbon footprint, without his TerraPass considered, might be large since he’s so wealthy, but the end educational effect & ultimate carbon reduction is worth it many times over, I’m sure. I can’t imagine that Gore doesn’t do things as carbon sensitively as possible. Smacks of the Republican attack on Kerry’s Swiftboat experience.

19. Comment by Woody @ Feb 27, 2007 4 AM

Pss on Gore’s electricity use:

I’ve asked Tennessee Policy whether any Gore business operations are run from his home (a la G.W. Bush running the country from “his” home). This could account for a large energy use, since Gore is such a successful businessman, in addition to his global warming awareness work. Big business doesn’t happen without power use. Also, as Adam says, he compensates by being a TerraPass customer.

20. Comment by Anonymous @ Feb 27, 2007 7 AM

I didn’t realize this years oscar gift was so green! I’m not the only one who believe it’s still cheaper to preserve this planet than figure out how to find and populate another one…Dave

21. Comment by KPM @ Feb 27, 2007 8 AM

Taking into account how much Mr. Gore preaches about saving the environment, there’s no excuse for him to use as much electricity in one month as the average American does in one year…in his 20 room Tennessee mansion. He needs to step up and be an example…not a hypocrite.

22. Comment by Aaron A. @ Feb 27, 2007 9 AM

If you can’t dispute the message, defame the messenger. Gore’s personal behavior (for which I’m sure there’s a rational explanation) doesn’t change his message; he could be the sole shareholder in TXU, but if his arguments are supported by research, they’re still valid.

Still, the article appears to be attacking Gore not only for his electricity usage, but also just for finding financial success. I presume that they do that to (a) call him a hypocrite, and (b) perpetuate the image of the “liberal elite,” who… somehow… hate success at the same time. (How do these peoples’ heads not explode from the self-contradictory nonsense they churn out?)

23. Comment by Kevin @ Feb 27, 2007 10 AM

Excellent job gentlemen and gentlewomen at Terra Pass!

24. Comment by Hope @ Feb 27, 2007 5 PM

“As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs.” - Martin Luther

I don’t think I can afford your special environmental dispensation.

My strong divisive opinion must be your insult, else you wouldn’t have deleted the previous post.

25. Comment by MNWalleye @ Feb 27, 2007 8 PM

Ooops looks like we have a whole lot of Hypocrite deniers amounst us. Sorry but it DOES matter what Al Gore’s energy use is if he is preaching for everyone else to cut back.

At the Oscars, “It’s not hard as you might think” when talking about being green by Al Gore. We’ll yea thats true if you have enough money to pay your conscience clear. Someone mentioned Al Gore uses Terrapass? if so how much? Lets walk the walk and put our carbon footprints out there along with Al Gores and the rest of the Hollywood bunch out there. Why does the Hollywood crowd need free offsets? Gads don’t these people have enough already?

Lets see, my own personal energy bill for Jan 07;
24.3 Kwh per day, 3.6 gas therms per day, billing cycle, 32 days, average temp 24 degrees. 3- people, 1,400 sq ft house.

No shrill for the oil companies but if I was, I would proudly name an oil carrier after him.

take care,

MNWalleye
6.45

26. Comment by common sense @ Feb 28, 2007 5 PM

Let me get this straight. People come here to buy “Carbon credits.” The money from selling these “carbon credits” goes towards green technology, such as that being developed, marketed and sold by TerraPass’ sister companies. TerraPass and her sister companies are owned by GreenSwitch Corporation, a private, for profit corporation.

Isn’t this kind of like sending money to the Hershey Corporation just because you like chocolate? You aren’t really getting anything for your money. The companies the monies go to would be doing the same thing anyway. TerraPass sales are just to fatten the bottom line for GreenSwitch Corporation and its shareholders. Why wouldn’t I take the same money and purchase shares of GreenSwitch Stock instead? At least that way I would get a share of the profits in exchange for the money I pumped into the company.

And what does it mean to “donate” these carbon credits to the celebrities anyway? I mean, does that mean that someone else is foolishly throwing a ton of money into these companies without getting anything back? Or is it just free advertising for TerraPass to sell more of these environmental indulgences?

27. Comment by Valerie Newkirk @ Feb 28, 2007 8 PM

I am fed up with celebs who just “talk green”. Is anyone other than maybe Ed Begley,Jr (God bless him!) giving up their private limos or jets? How about the huge mansions with pools, fountains, well watered lawns, etc. How much electricity does it take to power a Hollywood neighborhood? And the Clothes! Talk about conspicuous (sp?) consumption!

28. Comment by Anonymous @ Feb 28, 2007 8 PM

I count 52 names there (not that Jaden Smith really needs his own Terrapass…). That is a lot of carbon offset. Exactly how much wind power in Oklahoma will be generated by the “wind” power of the Oscars?

29. Comment by Anonymous @ Mar 1, 2007 10 AM

I just don’t understand how so many bright educated people are paying money to get carbon credits, when all you have to do is send your money directly to the company’s that are doing the work. Am I missing something, or is Terrapass just accepting money for these company’s and taking some to promote this carbon credit thing.

32. Comment by common sense @ Mar 1, 2007 2 PM

[quote]Your characterization of TerraPass is inaccurate. To begin with, TerraPass is not owned by GreenShift. GreenShift is a venture capital firm with a small minority ownership stake in TerraPass. [/quote]

Fair enough, but please enlighten us, what is the percentage of TerraPass that is owned by Greenshift?

[quote]TerraPass does not do business with any other companies that GreenShift has a stake in (although there would be nothing inherently wrong with such relationships, as long as we are delivering the promised value to our customers).[/quote]

So where do you get your carbon credits? The attestation report on the website merely states that you acquired the credits, it does not give any detail as to who they were acquired from.

[quote]TerraPass customers do get something when they make a purchase: they get a verified, measurable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. [/quote]

Where do these reductions in greenhouse gas emissions come from? Don’t they come from companies that are developing, marketing, and selling energy obtained via “green technologies”? Wouldn’t these companies be doing the exact same thing, even if nobody ever purchased a single “carbon credit”? I mean, there is going to be a huge financial windfall for the companies that develop the next big energy source.

Look, I ride my bike to work. Isn’t this whole carbon credit scheme the same as say … having someone who drives to work pay me because I ride my bike to work (which I would do anyway), just to assuage their guilty conscience? Riding my bike to work already provides inherent benefits (saving gas money, saving wear and tear on my car, providing me with exercise, etc), the only purpose behind someone paying me to ride my bike to work is to assuage their own guilty conscience over driving themselves to work.

[quote]That is the entire purpose of high-quality carbon credits — they fund reductions that would not happened otherwise.[/quote]

So the companies that are generating the “carbon credits” would not be conducting the research and development of new technologies? They wouldn’t still be selling the energy they are currently selling? They wouldn’t still be trying to find the next big marketable energy source? And even if they didn’t, wouldn’t some other enterprising company step up to take their place?

Anonymous:

[quote]Am I missing something, or is Terrapass just accepting money for these company’s and taking some to promote this carbon credit thing.[/quote]

You’re not missing a thing. That is exactly what is going on here.

Oh, by the way, if anyone does want to assuage their guilty conscience for driving to work, let me know. I will gladly accept payment for riding my bike to work.

34. Comment by common sense @ Mar 1, 2007 4 PM

Adam,

Thank you for the links. I will read up on what is posted there, as well as continue to research for myself.

35. Comment by Ted @ Mar 1, 2007 10 PM

Hey webmaster, you took down my opposing thoughts. Sigh..Another Orwellian liberal.

36. Comment by Bryan @ Mar 2, 2007 7 AM

Adam,
Could you elaborate on the landfill gas-flaring projects? Is it simply burning the methane generated by landfills with no energy conversion or use of the waste heat? Thanks.

37. Comment by Carole Bruch @ Mar 2, 2007 9 AM

I was appalled when I viewed a recent TV news story “exposing” Al Gore’s high use of energy for his home. At the end of this story, the reporter added (most nonchalant) that he was doing Co2 offsets. Can’t the newspeople report the news from the positive, i.e. the fact that he is OFFSETTING his use, rather than the quantity of his use?
It takes a lot of ‘power’ to SAVE THE PLANET!

38. Comment by Brian @ Mar 2, 2007 11 AM

We should be applauding ANY and ALL incremental changes. Even if he uses 20x the “norm” - atleast he is buying the offsets. Is there room for improvement - absolutely.

Do I think Nichole Kidman should carpool? Do I think Al Gore should get a smaller home so he uses less energy? Nope. That’s called class warfare. You cannot tell another person what they should do with their lifestyle. We should only encourage incremental change.

When the “Green Community” attacks someone that takes a positive step, it turns people off to the cause. We need to stop this damaging behavour. Why attack our own troops? Applaud their change, shine a spotlight on their actions and encourage them to make more, small steps in the right direction. They get it. They’re making a difference.

39. Comment by bayonet @ Mar 3, 2007 3 AM

I want to congratulate the owners of TerraPass - WOW making money from the fools in hollywood that believe that this is a good thing…you guys are amazing!!! Keep up the good work and enjoy capitalism at is best.

40. Comment by Aaron A. @ Mar 3, 2007 6 PM

I want to congratulate the owners of TerraPass - WOW making money from the fools in hollywood that believe that this is a good thing

That’s not a very nice thing to say, especially when you present nothing to back it up. The scientific community has presented a mountain of findings that say we need to reduce pollution. TerraPass offers a cheap market-based solution (meaning that you don’t have to pay for it if you don’t like the concept), and has an independent audit that says that their solution works. So you counter with… name calling?

— A.

41. Comment by bayonet @ Mar 3, 2007 6 PM

Aaron, you are right…I am sorry if I insulted you. Go ahead and buy tons of TerraPasses…I am sure the owners of TerraPass and the hollywood “elite” will thank you for it…after all it’s your money :-)

PS… I have enviromentally clean ocean front property in Arizona…in case you are interested?

{ED Note: As part of the Gore slam tactics, we’re getting more than the average amount of trolls. I’ll leave this up, but my advice is to ignore}

42. Comment by Carlos @ Mar 4, 2007 8 PM

Keep up the good work guys. As furniture retailers, we demand a lot of freight trucks to deliver our products. We just signed up to TerraPass as our first step to protecting the environment.

Carlos
www.RusticDirect.com

43. Comment by Mitch Cumberworth @ Mar 9, 2007 7 AM

How were these gifts of Terrapasses to the Hollywood stars paid for? Hopefully not from my carbon credit purchases.