FAQ Verified Emission Reductions
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Business Solutions | Green Building | Renewable Energy | Emission Reductions | About Renewable Choice
Verified Emission Reductions (Carbon Offsets)
- What is a Verified Emission Reduction (VER)?
- Verified emission reductions (VERs) allow businesses to reduce the environmental impact of their travel and some of their manufacturing activities beyond what they are able to conserve. Learn more about how VERs work.
- What's the difference between renewable energy credits and verified emission reductions?
- Businesses and consumers use renewable energy to offset the environmental impact of their electricity use, while carbon offsets are used to reduce the environmental impact of activities that directly create carbon dioxide pollution, such as flying, driving, and some manufacturing. To purchase renewable energy you need to buy renewable energy credits (RECs) and to purchase carbon offsets you need to buy verified emission reductions (VERs).
- Why should my company offset our carbon emissions?
- Carbon dioxide emissions are a harmful pollutant and have been shown to be the leading cause of climate change. Offsetting your carbon emissions with verified emission reductions (VERs) allows your business to take responsibility for its environmental impact while supporting clean technology solutions. Read more about the benefits of clean technology solutions.
- Why is carbon dioxide pollution harmful?
- Increased carbon dioxide pollution from human activity has been named the chief cause of climate change by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The amount of carbon dioxide pollution in our atmosphere is increasing and to avoid the most hazardous effects of climate change, our worldwide carbon dioxide pollution levels must stabilize and then be reduced. The only way to accomplish this is for everyone to do their part conserving energy and offsetting their environmental impact.
- How do carbon offsets help fight climate change?
- Carbon reduction projects sell carbon offsets, or verified emission reductions (VERs) to fund their projects. Proceeds from carbon offsets are an important revenue stream for projects that prevent or destroy greenhouse gases (GHGs) that contribute to climate change.
- Which carbon reduction projects does my purchase support?
- Renewable Choice supports only those carbon reduction projects that meet vigorous environmental and consumer protection standards. We currently support projects that meet the American Carbon Registry or Voluntary Carbon Standards guidelines. Renewable Choice carbon projects are recognized by the leading advocacy organization, Environmental Defense Fund. =
- Are Renewable Choice’s carbon offsets independently verified?
- All carbon offsets we sell are independently verified under the American Carbon Registry or the Voluntary Carbon Standard. Read more about our Clean Technology Standards.
- Is this a donation?
- Purchasing voluntary emission reductions (VERs) is not a donation. These carbon offsets are limited in supply and their price is set by the market. Renewable Choice and the carbon projects we work with are commercial companies.
- What is “additionality”?
- Additionality is a term used to describe the environmental, regulatory, and financial benefits of clean technology developed beyond “business-as-usual”.
Renewable Choice complies with high standards of additionality set forth by Green-e Energy® for renewable energy and Voluntary Carbon Standard and American Carbon Registry standard for verified emission reductions (carbon offsets). Read more about our Clean Technology Standards.
- What is Choice Carbon?
- Our Choice Carbon portfolio supports carbon reduction projects in the United States that conform with accepted international standards for project development and implementation. Choice Carbon is designed for companies and individuals looking to reduce their carbon footprint. It provides a reliable, verifiable offset product to address direct carbon emissions. Choice Carbon is verified by the American Carbon Registry. Learn how verified emission reductions (VERs) work.
- What is Global Carbon?
- Our Global Carbon portfolio complies with the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS). VCS follows Kyoto Protocol and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) standards as outlined by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Global Carbon is the best choice for corporations with an appetite for internationally sourced carbon from the most rigorously evaluated projects in the world. Learn how verified emission reductions (VERs) work.
