Energy Efficiency
While renewable energy projects reduce the need to produce more energy from dirty sources in the future, energy efficiency projects reduce the need to produce more energy now. They are also among the most cost-effective ways to reduce carbon emissions, making investment in energy efficiency a key part of fighting climate change.
Energy efficiency can refer to any project that applies new technologies, processes or practices to achieve the same outcome while using less energy. Opportunities like this can be found in all sectors of the economy: industrial, transportation and residential.
Energy efficiency can also refer to the retirement of carbon credits from a cap-and-trade system. In this case, Carbonfund.org purchases and retires carbon credits on behalf of our donors, permanently removing the right of other businesses to pollute.
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IdleAire - Nationwide
The innovative IdleAire project reduces tailpipe emissions from some of the heaviest emitters of all: the 18-wheelers that transport our consumer goods all over the country. IdleAire installs a small device in trucker cabins that eliminates the need to keep the engine running for power during rest stops. The technology allows truckers to heat and power the interior of the truck, run the radio and check email without forcing the engine to burn diesel, saving a gallon of diesel per hour.
Chicago Climate Exchange - Nationwide
The Chicago Climate Exchange is North America’s largest carbon trading market, with nearly 300 companies, cities, states and universities participating in a “cap-and-trade” program to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. CCX members calculate their emissions from a 1998-2001 baseline and are required to reduce their emissions from these levels over time. If they exceed their target CO2 reductions, they may sell their credits; if they fall short, they must buy credits. The entire process works as one, big market-based incentive program to become more energy efficient. Carbonfund.org purchases what are known as “carbon financial instruments” from the CCX and retires them. Essentially, we are buying and retiring forever the right of other companies to continue releasing CO2 into the atmosphere, forcing companies to increase and maintain their productivity while releasing less carbon - the definition of energy efficiency.