Businesses — Frequently Asked Questions

Investing in carbon offsets and renewable energy is a great way to compensate for the CO2 pollution you create when driving, flying, or using electricity. Your offset contributions stimulate demand for renewable energy, increase energy efficiency, and provide incentives for increases in the production of renewable energy.

Offsetting energy isn't an excuse to pollute. It's a way to take responsibility for the pollution that can't be avoided. We encourage you to increase energy efficiency and reduce waste production as much as you can, and then offset the rest of the energy you do use with clean and sustainable sources of energy.

Offset - verb (offsetting; past and past part. offset) 1. counterbalance; compensate for. noun 2. something that counterbalances; a compensating equivalent.

The greenhouse effect is the rise in temperature that the Earth experiences because certain naturally occurring gases and gases emitted as a result of human activities are released into the atmosphere including water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane, which become trapped on the ground. Because these gasses stay below the earth's atmosphere, they warm the Earth causing disastrous effects on the Earth's natural ecosystem. The combination of these effects is referred to as greenhouse gases.

Greenhouse gases (GHG), like carbon dioxide (CO2), are emitted when fossil-fuels are consumed. We all emit CO2 emissions when we drive a car, fly in a plane, use electricity, or generate waste. You can use less energy, travel less, or use public transport, but some emissions are unavoidable.

STI partners with two non-profit organizations to provide Carbon Offsets:

• The Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), a non-profit marketer of renewable energy that offers Carbon Offsets.
• Conservation International (CI), a leading non-profit organization that offers carbon offsets it calls Conservation Carbon.

STI also partners with ClimateCare and TerraPass to provide Verified Emission Reductions:

• ClimateCare and TerraPass provide support to project developers in emerging markets to create emissions reduction credits from projects that successfully reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to address regulatory and voluntary emission reduction obligations.

STI and its partners are focused on increasing energy efficiency, reducing waste, reducing deforestation, and replacing traditional sources of fuel used for energy including coal, oil and natural gas, with clean and renewable sources like wind and solar power.

STI protects the integrity of retail and wholesale offset transactions in several ways through our strategic partners.

Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF)

• BEF reinvests all contributions toward Carbon Offsets into the development of renewable energy projects across North America.
• All of BEF's Carbon Offsets are from 100 percent new, renewable resources found in North America.
• BEF renewable sources are Green-e Climate Certified (www.green-e.org), the nation's first certification program for carbon offsets sold to consumers on the retail market.
• Green-e Climate Certified GHG emission reduction products must contain only real, measured, permanent, verified, and beyond business-as-usual GHG emission reductions.
• All of BEF renewable energy sources undergo an independent environmental review using criteria developed in collaboration with regional and national environmental organizations. For more information about BEF's Carbon Offset sources, please visit www.b-e-f.org.

ClimateCare

• ClimateCare Verified Emission Reductions (VERs) support the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in Africa, Asia and Europe.
• ClimateCare Verified Emission Reductions (VER) are market-based commodities representing one metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) calculated using Global Warming Potentials and developed in accordance with procedures, criteria and methodologies of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the Kyoto Protocol or other international standards (such as the Gold Standard), with respect to their stipulations for greenhouse gas emissions reductions to be real, for the projects to not have happened without the investment that carbon credits provide, for the production of project-related social, economic and environmental benefits as well as emissions reductions. All projects are inspected and validated by CDM accredited Designated Operational Entities (DOEs), which are independent third-parties accepted by the United Nations.
• The VER projects STI offers are based on internationally recognized criteria and are developed in accordance with the highest standards in the market: a) Energy-based Projects. STI only accepts renewable energy, energy efficiency, and methane-based VER projects with power generation; b) Additionality. STI only supports projects that would not be viable without support from the carbon offset market. c) Sustainable Development. A project is only accepted by STI if it does not cause any harm to the local environment, society and economy. Additionaly, the project should contribute to sustainable development, improved quality of life, transfer of knowledge and technology, local job generation, and reductions in air and water pollution.
• ClimateCare VERs are Gold Standard certified (www.cdmgoldstandard.org) or in the process of undergoing Gold Standard assessment.

Conservation International

• All Conservation Carbon offsets are designed using the standards set forth by the Climate, Community, and Biodiversity Alliance (www.climate-standards.org).

TerraPass

• All VER projects STI offers are verified by an approved third party under either the Climate Action Reserve standard (www.climateactionreserve.org), which was created by the non-profit California Climate Action Registry as directed by the State of California; or the Voluntary Carbon Standard (www.v-c-s.org), which employs the UN's Clean Development Mechanism rules and procedures.
• All emission reduction projects are also validated for additionality, permanence, and other eligibility criteria, and every emission reduction sold to customers is independently verified.

All of the projects in STI's portfolio are verified and or certified by independent third-party organizations. The on-going performance of each project is monitored by our partners at BEF, ClimateCare, Conservation International and their local partners, as well as by the independent certification bodies at least once a year throughout each project's entire life cycle.

According to the Natural Resource Defense Council, the latest scientific data confirms that the Earth's climate is rapidly changing due to a thickening layer of carbon dioxide pollution, mostly from emissions of power plants, automobiles and airplanes. The following are examples of how we all contribute to global warming.

• In a grim and powerful assessment of the future of the planet that was released in February of 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - the leading international network of climate scientists - concluded for the first time that global warming is ''unequivocal'' and that human activity is the main driver.
• According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average American is responsible for emitting approximately 6.6 tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which equates to almost 15,000 pounds of carbon dioxide.
• Through our travels we contribute to nearly 1/3 of worldwide climate changing emissions. Travel-related emissions can be offset or compensated for with each contribution you make toward carbon offsets and renewable energy.

The good news is that we can prevent global warming. The solution is within our grasp and is found in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels by supporting the use of renewable energy such as wind and solar technologies used for powering our homes and business, increasing energy efficiency, reducing waste, and offsetting the environmental impacts of our travel.

You can make the change to a clean, sustainable and renewable energy future, today:

STI offers Carbon Offsets to consumers, tourism providers, corporations, and other concerned organizations, affording them an opportunity to offset or compensate for unavoidable travel-related emissions.

Your contributions toward carbon offsets will have a direct impact on the following:

• Diversify our power supply
• Reduce dependency on imported fuels
• Increase demand for energy efficient products
• Protect human health through decreased air and water pollution
• Increase the use of renewable energy on our world's power grids
• Create new jobs
• Protect habitat and wildlife
• Ensure a secure, affordable energy future
• Protect biodiversity

Carbon Offsets make it possible for individuals and businesses to reduce the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions they are responsible for, such as product manufacturing and transportation, by reducing or displacing the CO2 in another place, such as reducing the use of fossil fuels used for power. Carbon Offsets can include renewable energy like wind and solar power, energy efficiency, and reforestation projects.

By offering Carbon Offsets, STI is making it possible for anyone, anywhere to offset or compensate for their emissions and contribute to the reduction of climate-altering activities.

• Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) Carbon Offsets: BEF's Carbon Offsets are a market-based mechanism used to support the development of new clean, renewable and sustainable sources of energy in North America. Each Carbon Offset equates to 1400 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions offset and represents the replacement of fossil fuels used for energy with 1,000-kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity generated from renewable resources including solar, wind, hydro and biomass.
• ClimateCare Verified Emission Reductions (VERs): VERs are a market-based mechanism used to support the development of renewable sources of energy and energy efficiency projects mainly in developing countries. One VER is produced for every metric ton of CO2 that is not released into the environment.
• Conservation International's Conservation Carbon offsets: Conservation Carbon offsets are market-based commodities representing one metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) through reforestation and avoided deforestation.
• TerraPass Verified Emission Reductions (VERs): VERs are a market-based mechanism used to support the development of renewable sources of energy and energy efficiency projects mainly in the U.S. One VER is produced for every metric ton of CO2 that is not released into the environment.

A renewable energy certificate (REC) is equivalent to the environmental attributes associated with 1 Megawatt hour (MWh) of renewable energy generation. An offset is a greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction product. Offsets can be generated from a variety of project types, including energy efficiency, renewable energy, methane destruction, and forestry. A REC is measured in MWh, whereas an offset is measured in tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. RECs can be used to match a consumer's emissions from electricity use but are not typically considered an offset unless they meet stringent "additionality" requirements (see next FAQ). A GHG emission reduction product can be used to offset the emissions associated with all activities, including electricity use and travel.

Yes. The generation of renewable energy backs down conventional electricity generation and reduces the need for new fossil-fueled power plants, which in turn leads to reduced GHG emissions. If a renewable energy project meets stringent additionality criteria, it can be used to generate offsets. As long as there is no government policy that allocates the ownership of GHG reductions created by renewable energy to fossil-fueled power plants (such as a cap-and-trade scheme that allows capped fossil-fueled power plants to receive credit for reductions), then renewable energy provides a real means to effectively address climate change. Most of the major, internationally accepted offset programs, including all of The Gold Standard and Green-e Climate Endorsed Programs, allow renewable energy facilities as sources for offsets.

Carbon offset projects that support environmental "additionality" are better than those that don't. Additionality refers to offset projects that achieve reductions that are "additional to those that otherwise would occur". In other words, offset projects should support the development of new renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, for example, that would not exist otherwise.

Since carbon offset quality can vary greatly, it is important for businesses and consumers to consider the differences between them. International Verified Emission Reduction (VER) projects are developed in accordance with procedures, criteria and methodologies from the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto protocol. All of the international VER projects STI offers are inspected and validated by CDM accredited Designated Operational Entities (DOEs), which are independent, third-parties accepted by the United Nations.

Domestic VER projects are verified by an approved third party under either the Climate Action Reserve standard (www.climateactionreserve.org), which was created by the non-profit California Climate Action Registry as directed by the State of California; or the Voluntary Carbon Standard (www.v-c-s.org), which employs the UN's Clean Development Mechanism rules and procedures.

BEF Carbon Offsets are considered to be among the best available in North America because of Green-e Climatecertification (www.green-e.org) and the independent environmental review of BEF's renewable energy sources. However, the extent to which these projects support environmental "additionality" is limited compared to carbon offsets certified to The Gold Standard (www.cdmgoldstandard.org).

Conservation Carbon offset projects are designed using the standards set forth by the Climate, Community, and Biodiversity Alliance (www.climate-standards.org)

For more information, please visit www.carbonoffsets.org.

Simply put, investing in Carbon Offsets reduces greenhouse gases emissions by replacing fossil fuels used for power with renewable energy. By employing energy efficiency techniques such as using compact florescent light bulbs and energy efficient appliances we can reduce the energy we use and offset the rest of our energy use by using clean, renewable sources for power.

STI is a United States-based 501(c)(3) non-profit and is currently the only provider of comprehensive climate and carbon management solutions within the travel and tourism industry. STI is also Bonneville Environmental Foundation's (BEF) travel and tourism partner in providing Carbon Offsets.

BEF is a United States-based non-profit organization. All of the contributions it receives for Carbon Offsets are reinvested into new renewable energy projects across North America and watershed restoration in the United States.

Conservation International is a leading United States-based non-profit organization that seeks to protect the world's biodiversity hotspots.

ClimateCare, a business unit of J.P. Morgan, and TerraPass both fund projects with the specific aim of making reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas concentrations in order to reduce climate change.

STI is registered as a non-profit organization and has been granted 501(c)(3) status by the IRS. When you make a contribution to STI for the express purpose of buying Carbon Offsets, you are directing STI to invest in the amount of Carbon Offsets that you desire on your behalf. They are then retired and taken out of the market. Although this means that you won't personally own the emissions offsets as your property, you will help to accomplish the desired environmental outcome - cleaner air and additional renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.

Upon request, STI will gladly send you an acknowledgement of your contribution, which is a tax-deductible charitable donation to the extent allowed by law if you operate a U.S.-based business or if you are a U.S. citizen. Please note that if you contribute directly on-line, you will receive an automated charitable donation receipt. Consult with your own tax advisor if you have further questions about the tax deductibility of your contribution.

STI believes operating in a transparent manner is the best way for our business and individual customers to be confident in the value of the Carbon Offsets we provide.

Our approach is to conservatively estimate how much pollution is reduced, disclose our estimating methodologies, which are available on-line, and to monitor and disclose how our projects perform.

This approach makes us accountable to our customers and to the market. It also enables us to provide a better service.

STI offers custom web-based carbon calculators for business of all types. Placing a carbon calculator on your website is an easy and cost-effective way to demonstrate your company’s commitment to environmental responsibility. By encouraging clients to use your calculator to offset their emissions, your company will be supporting the reduction of the overall impact on global climate change, while simultaneously educating your clients on the importance of reducing their own environmental footprint. To learn more, click here.