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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Truck Stop Electrification - Nationwide

Carbonfund.org supports the Truck Stop Electrification project which reduces tailpipe emissions from freight trucks that transport our consumer goods all across the country.  Long haul truck drivers idle their trucks to heat or cool their cab and to power on-board appliances during the federally mandated 10 hour rest period for every 11 hours on the road.  Engine idling creates poor resting conditions for the driver and fosters unhealthy conditions since a large number of trucks idle in close proximity.  Idling also consumes fuel while moving no product, reduces engine life, and requires more frequent engine maintenance.

With this project, drivers can shut off their engines and utilize advanced truck stop electrification.  This system consists of an in-cab service module connected via a flexible hose to an efficient external unit that heats, cools, and powers the interior of the truck, and lets the driver run the radio and check email without forcing the engine to burn diesel.

By avoiding engine idling, freight trucks save up to a gallon of diesel per hour.

Chicago Climate Exchange CFIs - Worldwide

Carbonfund.org is an Associate Member of the Chicago Climate Exchange in order to purchase and permanently retire what are known as Carbon Financial Instruments (CFIs) from the exchange.  The Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) is North America’s largest carbon trading market to reduce CO2 emissions.  Carbonfund.org is buying and retiring these credits which would otherwise be used by polluting, non-compliant companies.  CCX members calculate their emissions from a 1998-2001 baseline and are required to reduce their emissions 4% by 2006 and 6% by 2010.  If members exceed their target CO2 reductions, they may sell their credits; if they fall short, they must buy credits. 

Essentially, by retiring our CCX purchases instead of continuing to trade them, this forces companies to increase and maintain their productivity while releasing less carbon— the definition of energy efficiency.  Offsets which are registered on the exchange undergo an independent verification process and are also reviewed by both the Chicago Climate Exchange and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

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