Your money helps to fund clean energy and carbon reduction projects, including wind power; farm power such as dairy farm methane digesters; and landfill gas capture. Every one of these great projects meets our requirements: near-term carbon reductionYour money helps to fund clean energy and carbon reduction projects, including wind power; farm power such as dairy farm methane digesters; and landfill gas capture. Every one of these great projects meets our requirements: near-term carbon reductions, independent verification, and ongoing monitoring.s, independent verification, and ongoing monitoring.
Our prices are determined by the current cost of clean energy and carbon reduction projects. These prices fluctuate, but we use market mechanisms to ensure that we achieve high-quality carbon reductions at the lowest possible cost. You can determine which product is right for you by using any of our quick and simple carbon calculators for driving, flying, home energy use, business activities, or events (such as weddings).
Our home energy emissions calculator asks you to input your location and average energy bills. When you tell us your ZIP and utility bill data, we can accurately estimate your annual energy consumption. We then convert this estimate of your total annual energy consumption into an estimate of carbon dioxide emissions. Although this technique yields a good approximation, you can also fine tune the result by entering more specific data.
We take into account that energy consumption fluctuates in predictable ways based on the time of year and area of the country. For example, in the summer months, households in hot climates use more electricity for air conditioning. In cold-weather areas, homes use more energy in the winter for heating.
For the Dorm TerraPass, we estimated a national average for the carbon dioxide emissions from a college dorm room. Our estimate is based on a number of assumptions, so the final amount should be regarded as a reasonable approximation rather than a precise figure.
The assumptions that go into our estimate come from a variety of sources, including the 1999 U.S. Building Census and the greenhouse gas emissions factors provided by the U.S. Department of Energy.
A lot of the energy use in a dorm takes place in the common areas. Energy is required to heat the showers and keep the hall lights on. Because students are ultimately responsible for this energy use as well, we apportion some of the common area emissions into our average.
Feeding all the available data into our supercomputer yields a carbon dioxide output of 6,180 lbs for a typical dorm room over the course of an academic year – about the same amount of emissions generated by driving a small car.
In addition to a verified reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, your Dorm TerraPass comes with a reusable water bottle and a TerraPass decal. Refill the water bottle and cut back on purchases of environmentally unfriendly bottled water.
Every TerraPass comes with a money-back guarantee. If for any reason you’re not satisfied with your purchase, you can have a full refund, no questions asked. Just send us an email at ops@terrapass.com requesting a refund within 30 days of placing your order, and return any shipped material to us.
Even if you try to conserve, seemingly simple things can raise your home’s energy consumption dramatically. Do you have a plasma TV? Poor insulation? A second fridge? A pool? Maybe your house is just bigger than average, so it requires more heating and cooling. Or maybe you have more than the average number of people living in your house.
Also, our calculations are estimates. Based on your utility bills, we can determine typical consumption patterns in your area. You can fine-tune this result by entering more detailed information about your home energy usage.
Electricity delivered to your home is generated by power plants that emit carbon dioxide, usually by burning coal. When you burn natural gas, heating oil or propane to heat your home or your food, this also emits carbon dioxide.
If you purchase green power, your electricity is already carbon neutral. You may still have a home energy carbon footprint from your use of propane, natural gas, or heating oil. Adjust the results in our home energy calculator by following the “fine-tune this result” link and telling us about your green power purchase.
Different utilities use different fuel sources. For example, a utility that sources most of its electricity from coal will have a much higher emissions rate than one that uses hydropower. Regional differences can be dramatic. Electricity in Kansas causes three and a half times the carbon pollution as electricity in Washington state!
We recommend that you identify the light that is used more than any other and replace the bulb in it with the compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) that we send you.
You no longer need to hide those plastic bags under the sink. Let’s face it, do you ever get them out again? Now you can keep — and reuse — plastic bags in your TerraPass recycled plastic bag dispenser. Hang it up in the kitchen, in the closet, wherever convenient — and reuse those plastic bags!
Hold the magnet out in front of you with the image facing towards you. Slowly walk around your kitchen. When you feel yourself being pulled toward a specific appliance, that’s the one for the magnet. Unless it’s the oven.
6,000 lbs is the smallest amount that covers the cost of the energy-saving items we send you. If your emissions are less than this, give yourself a pat on the back and consider joining forces with your neighbor for a joint offset.
Of course! It helps if you know the make and annual mileage of the car or the ZIP code of the home you want to balance, but we can help you estimate your gift recipient’s emissions regardless. Check out our gift page.
TerraPass doesn’t in any way affect the way electricity or other sources of energy is delivered to your home. If you have any problems with electricity or any other home energy, please check your bill to find out whom to contact.
Cool! Our [home energy calculator](/carbon-footprint-calculator/#residential) will still work for you, because your decreased energy use will be reflected in your lower bills. But if you want to fine-tune your calculation, follow the “fine-tune this result” link and enter your exact kWh consumption of grid energy
Technically, the burning of wood is carbon neutral (or close to it), because wood is a renewable resource. Of course, burning wood creates other sorts of emissions, so it isn’t necessarily an environmentally friendlier option.
Yes. Wildly. In fact, sometimes the energy use of two dorms on the same campus can vary by a factor of over 100!
Our emissions estimates are derived from national averages. But the carbon intensity of the electrical grid varies a lot across the country. A dorm room in Vermont will, in reality, have a different carbon footprint as the same size dorm room in Colorado.
Individual habits also have a big impact. The use of computers, cell phones chargers, refrigerators, hair dryers, TVs and stereos will all affect the total consumption of energy in a dorm room.
Unfortunately, data on energy use in individual dorms is almost never made available to the public. We’ve decided to make our Dorm TerraPass simple and accessible to everyone by using what we feel is a good estimate of the national average.
The Dorm TerraPass is designed to balance the carbon footprint of an entire dorm room. Of course, dorm rooms vary significantly in size. If you have an eight-person suite, you might want to think about doubling up!
When you buy a TerraPass, we purchase verified carbon offsets on your behalf. These carbon offsets fund a measurable, verified reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
We will send you a letter verifying the amount of carbon dioxide emissions you have reduced. You will also receive a product content label detailing which project types we fund with your money.
In addition, you’ll receive gifts you can use to help spread the word about global warming and show the world your commitment to reducing carbon emissions.
For a Road TerraPass, you’ll receive a window decal and bumper sticker.
For a Home TerraPass, you’ll receive a fridge magnet and two items to help you reduce your own energy consumption: a compact fluorescent light bulb and a recycled plastic bag dispenser made from 100% recycled soda bottles.
For a Flight TerraPass, you’ll receive a luggage tag or a decal depending on your flight distance.
For a Wedding TerraPass, you’ll receive a wedding certificate in an attractive recycled wood frame.
For a Dorm TerraPass, you’ll receive a decal and a TerraPass water bottle.
For a Business TerraPass, you’ll receive a customized window display or framed certificate.
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