Want to clean-up and green up your office? You've come to the right place. SOAP will provide the tools SCU faculty and staff need as we work towards a more sustainable SCU. This site is a work in progress... meaning as we receive questions and research issues, we'll add new information.
CO2 offsets fund projects that have a positive ecological effect (like planting trees), thereby nullifying the negative effect of the pollution you create. Different programs benefit different projects, so you can choose to fund anything from solar stoves in African villages to containing methane from dairy farms. Here are a variety of sites to try with different focuses!
Car
Carbonfund: a nonprofit organization, so your contribution is tax deductible!
NativeEnergy and TerraPass: each of these have tools to help you calculate your travel CO2.
Plane
Expedia and Travelocity both let you offset when you book plane tickets online.
Some airlines, like Delta and United, include a carbon offset checkbox when you are booking tickets.
Train
Amtrak partners with Carbonfund, allowing you to offset 2,500 miles for $5!
The Offset Consumer lists the best offset providers, taking into account different ratings criteria.
If you're on the road and have to grab something quick to eat, try to stop at these places versus others. Au Bon Pain, Chipotle, and Starbucks are better options, featuring some local and/or organic ingredients, recycled paper products, and more. Of the Top 10 most-frequented fast food restaurants, McDonald's and Subway are your best bets, incorporating recycled paper in their napkins and building storefronts that use eco-materials.
Unlike plastic wrap and waxed paper, you can buy 100% recycled aluminum foil and recycle it! It's better for your health too. Plastic wrap and waxed paper are made from petroleum and some contain carcinogenic PVC. Try Reynolds Recycled Aluminum Foil-just like conventional foil but in 100% recycled form. Go to Earth911 and type in aluminum foil and your zip code to find out if you can recycle it locally. It doesn't have to be spotless, but remove large chunks of food before putting it in the bin.
Going on a trip? Offset your emissions!
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