# 1 Entry Level

The Nature Conservancy offers this very thorough calculator, which estimates your Carbon output in tonnage, but also offers a comparison to the US average and the global average. Plus when you finish you can opt to offset your personal footprint right from that page. This calculator takes about 2 minutes, and covers domestic carbon use, personal transportation, food consumption, and waste disposal.

#2 For Kids

This calculator is part of a MeetTheGreens.com a website on green living for youngsters. The calculator asks kid-centric questions like, “what do your light bulbs look like,” and “how do you get to school?”

#3 The Whole Enchilada

We’re not just messing around any more. Get out your floor plan and your utility bill, the carbonfund.com calculators will take square footage and kilowatt hours into account. This site is home to many calculators for everything from flights, to weddings, to businesses. This super thorough sight must have been designed by ‘mathletes.’ If your looking for accuracy and variety. This is the site for you!

If this list doesn’t satisfy you check out squidoo’s list of more than 75 carbon calculators.

The Basics:

Before you go hunting around for your 7th grade chart of the periodicals, let’s do a quick briefing on the ‘carbon’ in ‘Carbon Neutrality.’ When we talk about Carbon Neutrality, we are really talking about CO2, a green house gas. It’s what you and I exhale, its also what comes out of our car’s exhaust, and many of our power-plants. CO2 is the most abundant greenhouse gas (GHG) in our atmosphere. Carbon and the other GHGs in the atmosphere act like (you guessed it) a greenhouse. They trap the heat from the sun and keep it down here on earth. In fact without GHGs the earth would be cold and desolate. The problem with CO2 is that our atmosphere may have more greenhouse gas than it needs. GHGs have been blamed for global warming and all the flooding, draught and habitat destruction that come along with it. The US Government started tracking how much CO2 there is in the atmosphere in 1958¹ and it’s climbing at an alarming rate. ² So how much carbon are you responsible for? The average person breaths about 2.2 lbs of CO2 a day, just a tiny bit compared to the CO2 produced by the cars we ride in. To give you an idea, burning just one gallon of gasoline produces around 19.6 lbs of CO2 ³ and over the course of a year the average American is responsible for putting 20.3 metric tons of CO2 into the air. Compares that to 1.19 tons for the average Peruvian. ⁴ Ultimately though, those numbers are just averages. You can get a personal estimate of your a carbon output using an online carbon calculator. Check out Tech and Tools for a list of our favorites.

Pros:

As awareness of the danger of GHGs has grown, many individuals, companies and countries have begun to reduce their carbon production. Individuals do this by driving less and using less electricity, or switching to a source of electricity that doesn’t produce as much carbon. If a person could decrease their carbon output to zero we could describe that person as ‘Carbon Neutral.’ We can get pretty close to ‘Carbon Neutrality’ through a popular new process called Carbon Offsetting. Offsetting allows us to make up for the CO2 we produce. We can do that by removing CO2 from the atmosphere or by helping someone else reduce their output. For example: maybe you can’t give up driving your car but you can plant a bunch of trees (which literally eat carbon for lunch.) Or if you heat your home with electricity from a coal power plant that produces CO2, you could invest in a company that’s building a wind or solar power plant nearby. There are a wide variety of companies and organizations that specialize in carbon offsetting. For instance when you book a flight with some airlines, their websites automatically offer you the chance to donate to a tree planting program or a solar or wind power project. ⁵

Cons:

The first criticism of Carbon Neutrality comes from people who feel that global warming is not caused by humans. This is an increasingly rare point of view, but there are some groups, even scientists, who don’t believe that global warming is caused by human activity. However, in 2008 even the Bush Administration (initially slow to accept responsibility for global warming) ratified an international agreement stating “It is very likely (greater than 90% probability) that most… global warming is due to increased concentrations of human-generated GHG.” ⁶

There are other more mainstream objections to the carbon neutrality movement. Most of them are about the effectiveness of carbon offsetting.

One argument according to environmentalist George Monbiot is, “The trade in carbon offsets is an excuse for business as usual.” ⁷ George and other proponents of this argument feel that there is no adequate tradeoff for reducing the amount of carbon we produce. In their opinion, anytime we try to buy our way out of a low carbon lifestyle, we are simply passing the buck.

Other critics take issue with the idea of planting trees as an offset, because of what they call permanence. Carbon in fossil fuels, like gasoline and coal, is locked away permanently below the surface of the earth. Unless we decide to dig it up and burn it, the carbon is totally trapped. Trees on the other hand will die, burn and biodegrade on their own, releasing carbon back into the atmosphere. So having carbon in our trees may be better than having it in our atmosphere but its not the same thing as having the carbon fossilized and under our feet.

Another problem with tree planting as an offset has to do with timing. Capturing carbon takes much more time than burning it. Take a flight and you’ve already introduced loads of carbon into the atmosphere. Plant a tree that same day and it’ll take years for the tree to soak up the same amount of carbon, meanwhile the planet is getting hotter.⁸

Finally the offsetting business itself has some big pitfalls. The industry is new and under-regulated. Dishonest offsetting schemes enable companies to greenwash⁹ Sadly, many well meaning people may be tricked into wasting their money on ineffective offsetting.

One newspaper investigation found many disturbing things ¹⁰ like companies that sold carbon credits which result in absolutely zero carbon reduction. They also found that, funds from some offsetting schemes are paid to companies that would have reduced their carbon output even without additional money.¹¹ Unfortunately, with the current state of regulation, consumers often don’t know exactly what they will get for their money.

The Bottom Line:

At B-theChange we believe that responsible global citizens must make an effort to keep their carbon output low. We also believe that there is no real substitute for living a low carbon lifestyle. On the other hand, we certainly aren’t perfect and we bet you aren’t either. Carbon offsetting, despite it’s drawbacks, really can make a difference and while we don’t believe in buying our way out of responsibility, carbon trading is a way to remind ourselves that there is a greater cost for all the CO2 we produce.

When you do offset, do research before you give your money to anyone.

One quick way to learn the motives of an offset group is to find out if it’s a for-profit company or non-profit organization. Knowing that non-profits don’t have cash as a bottom line we prefer to purchase offsets from non-profits. ¹²

Take Action:

Take Action:

CARBON REDUCTION
There are more ways to reduce your carbon output than could be listed on this whole website, let alone this one page. Significant carbon reduction is a lifestyle not a single action but to get you started here are a few suggestions:

1. When possible don’t drive. Walk, bike, take public transit or carpool. 9.9% ¹³ of carbon emissions in the world come from cars and trucks.
2. Shop local. The closer to home you’re food is grown, the less carbon is burned to get it to your mouth. 13% of carbon emissions come from transportation.
3. Turn off lights and other electronics when you aren’t using them, use less AC in the summer and less heat in the winter. 24.6% of carbon emissions come from heat and electricity production.
4. Look for more carbon saving tips and tricks on B-theChange.

CARBON OFFSETTING
1. You can pay other people to offset your carbon… but you can also do it yourself. Anyone can plant a tree! Trees generally absorb carbon as they grow and then release it back to the atmosphere when they die. You can read a cool step by step instruction on tree planting here.
2. Start small. Offset one thing, through the non-for-profit Carbon Fund. You can offset your next airplane flight, or even better your last one. Then make a habit of it. Go here and click flight.
3. Or pick a day every year (new-years, tax-return-day, earthday) to offset your carbon footprint. For $240 the Carbon Fund can offset all the carbon an average US citizen produces. $240 may sound like a chunk of change but think of it as 66 cents a day and it’s pretty manageable. It is certainly less than your cable or cellphone bill. Know any young people? Do it for them as a gift, an investment in their future.

Written by: Ben Connors

Taking action in a vacuum does makes a difference, but when you do it in front of others the effect of your actions can MULTIPLY quickly. B-theChange is about individual responsibility, but also about empowering others to believe they can make a difference.

So when you read something you think is important we want you to ’spread the word.’ That’s why we’ve added ‘Spread the Word’ at the end of every article. It’s a great way for us to get the word out, and a great way for YOU have an effect on the world around you.

You might be teaching a lesson, setting a trend, explaining an idea or stressing a point. Whatever it is, keep spreading the word.

B-theChange is a website working to build a culture of DIY Activism, Global Citizenship, and Responsible Living. The site is under development. Please have a look around, and check back often to see what we’re up to.

Join B-theChange and we’ll send you an email when we formally launch. Signup!

Florence A. is a 41 year old mother of 5, with a business in Benin City, Nigeria. With the help of 21 individuals from Europe, Canada and the U.S., she has purchased food, provisions and drinks to sell at her store. Three months after receiving her $525 microfinance loan, Florence had repaid 38% of what she borrowed.

The Basics:

Microfinance is the process of making small loans to individuals or groups so they can expand or establish small businesses. Loans are paid back in small amounts, over a short period of time, usually between 6 months to a year. The money is then “reloaned” to another borrower.

Microfinance is often done by large microfinancing institutions (MFI’s) which provide a variety of banking services to the poor.

But you don’t need an MFI to get involved in Microfinance. Individuals can also loan small amounts through peer to peer lending groups (P2P’s). Recently, New York Times Reporter, Nicholas Kristof, drew attention to a P2P called Kiva and encouraged his readers to participate in what he referred to as “do-it-yourself Foreign Aid.” ¹ It was through a $25 loan at Kiva that B-theChange first learned about Florence in Nigeria.

Microfinance has been around since the 70’s, but has become increasingly popular since the Grameen Bank won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, ²

Muhammad Yunus, founder of the Grameen Bank, describes microfinance as a “poverty-focused, collateral-free, low-interest microcredit program.” ³

Pros:

Conventional banks loan money to the wealthy. The wealthier you are, the larger the loan you can receive. It takes money to make money and people can easily get trapped at the bottom. In microfinance the loan process is not based on wealth. “It is based on the potential of a person.” ⁴

Microfinance has proved to be just the kind of jump start many families need to catapult themselves out of poverty and into the ‘working class.’ When microloan receivers get a loan, they don’t just benefit from the loan itself. They also benefit from the positive credit history they can build.

But microfinance isn’t just about alleviating poverty. It is also especially beneficial in the battle for women’s equality. A majority of microfinance loans go to poor women, many of whom are culturally cut off from traditional financial institutions. With these small loans they can become productive and powerful within their communities. ⁵

Microfinance can also be good for the lender. Traditionally MFI’s charge interest on their loans. Some P2P’s also charge interest. If you invest with MicroPlace for example, you can choose the length of the investment and the financial return on the loan, so you can actually earn a small amount of money even while making loans to those in need.

Cons:

There are some arguments against microlending. One argument is that it helps the poor but not the poorest. The poorest in the world may not have the access or literacy needed to get involved in microlending and, when loans do reach the extremely poor, the money may be used for immediate needs, not invested. Critics suggest that other interventions, such as free health care and business training, are more helpful to the extremely poor.

Another argument is that credit is a serious responsibility. Sometimes clients are unable to repay their debts and may end up in a worse financial state than when they started.

Others claim that many organizations are ‘jumping into this field,’ under the assumption they can alleviate poverty, without looking at the causes of poverty in different regions.” ⁶

Finally, critics argue that heavy investment in microfinancing hurts local economies. Microfincance assists a few but not the larger population. These critics suggest that rather then loaning money to several small groups or individuals, funds should be used to help a community, through financing a larger project. An example of this would be loaning money to a sewing cooperative, rather than to an individual entrepreneur tailor or seamstress.

The Bottom Line:

Our consensus is that microfinance, despite its detractors, is a constructive way to invest your money. That said, we find that microlending has the greatest positive effect when the loans go to projects that provide immediate returns, and loans can be repaid within a short period of time.

The key to responsible lending seems to be finding an MFI or P2P that is trustworthy, and does a good job of screening potential candidates. You can get more information on international microlending at MicroFinance Gateway

Take Action:

B-theChange thinks a small P2P loan is a great place to start your microlending adventure. Given the low minimum investment, the variety of available loan takers, and the transparency it provides, we think KIVA is one of the best sites for the casual microlender.

So next time you take a bunch of change to the bank or find some money in an old jacket, consider loaning $25 to a poor person in need, through a P2P or take the plunge right now, set up your KIVA account and start scoping out different loan applicants.

If you’re not quite ready to part with your $25 you can educate yourself even more about microfinance. The United Nations Capital Development Fund has a free online course. Check it out here.

Written by guest author: Katherine Mullaney

While researching this week’s ‘Just Cause’ on ethanol, guest author Shaun Conway found a little gem that the US government has tucked away on one of their myriad website sites.

Just enter your address or zip code and this tool, developed by the Department of Energy, generates a google-map of your neck of the woods. This mashup allows you to search for E85 hydrgogen, biodiesel, compressed natural gas, electric, hyrdogen, Liquefied natural Gas, and Propane.

We here at BTC reccomend using E10 fuel whenever possible, but E10 is so widely available that the government didn’t add it to this map. So how do you find E10 in your area? Well it depends what state you’re in. Most states now require gas stations to put stickers on their pumps so it’s easy to tell where you’re getting that eco-friendly dose of ethanol.

It’s no google-map but BTC whipped up this little gizmo to give you more info about getting E10 in your area. ¹

Alright international readers, do any of you have suggestions on where to get similar info for other countries? Hit up our comment section if you do.

BTC has taken a step toward carbon neutrality. We are very proud to announce that our website is now hosted on a carbon neutral web server.

Dreamhost a web hosting company offsets the carbon used for it’s electricity, it’s disposable goods, even for the gas employees use to commute.

In the past we here at BTC ran our own web server 24/7 sucking down electricity and puffing out greenhouse gases, but now we’ve contracted with Dreamhost to host our site in a carbon neutral way. And we are super proud. PARTY!!!!

What exactly is Carbon Neutrality? You probably know it’s an eco-buzz-word but you may not know what it means and how it relates to you. Being carbon neutral means theoretically your activities are not contributing to global warming.

For a more detailed explanation check out our upcoming article on Carbon Neutrality later this week, in the ‘Just Causes’ section

Did you know that the corn we eat as a favorite summertime treat can also be used as an alternative fuel source called ethanol? Today 1 in 40 cars and trucks can run on E85, a fuel that is 85 percent corn-based ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.

Even without an E85 enabled ride, you can use ethanol in smaller percentages. You may already be using it. Ethanol is blended into nearly half of all U.S. gasoline.¹ So with all the corn we have in the U.S. why are we still relying on foreign petroleum?

Simply put, there is A LOT of debate about corn-based ethanol. Here’s our breakdown:

PROS:

Ethanol is high octane, making it a cleaner burning fuel source. The high octane levels also clean your fuel system which can help lengthen the life of your vehicle. Think of it in terms of the fuel you put in your body: a glass of orange juice gives you more energy than a glass of orange soda, and leaves less crud behind. It’s the same for high octane versus low octane fuels.

So E85 is better for your car but that’s not all. It “reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 19% to 52%” ² depending on the kind of energy used to produce the ethanol. So it’s efficient and enviro-friendly, you could even say it’s patriotic. Parts of the US government encourage the use of ethanol because it is a largely domestic source of fuel.

According to the DOE, relying on petroleum imports “puts the United States at risk for trade deficits, supply disruption, and price changes” ³ not to mention the uneasy relationship the U.S. has with many petroleum supplier countries (Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Russia).

CONS:

On the anti-ethanol side, opponents argue that ethanol is not really as energy efficient as petroleum. David Pimmental, a scientist at Cornell University, argues that when calculating the efficiency of ethanol, you have to consider the energy for all the labor and the machinery that goes into growing the corn, processing the fuel etc. He argues that when you include all that energy it takes more than a gallon of gasoline to produce a gallon of corn-based ethanol.

And then there is a social drawback too. Corn-based ethanol could create a food shortage. By creating a demand for ethanol we reduce the amount of land available for crops; that could raise the price of food globally. An economic consultant for an Alexandria, Virginia agribusiness firm explained to BTC that, “One tank of gas for an SUV (approx 25 gallons) requires 450 lbs. of corn. That’s enough corn to feed an average person for one year.”

LOOKING FORWARD:

Although most ethanol in the U.S. is from domestic corn crops, there are new efforts underway to make ethanol from non-food sources. This is called “cellulosic ethanol” and it comes from sugar cane, crop wastes, trees and grasses. Cellulosic ethanol produces even less pollution. It can potentially reduce emissions by 86% ⁴ compared to gasoline. Cellulosic ethanol is AWESOME because it takes less gasoline to process, and doesn’t have as much of an effect on the nation’s food supplies. The scientific community is largely behind research and development of cellulosic ethanol and slowly but surely the government is coming around as well.

BOTTOM LINE:

So that sums up the debate. But what does this mean for responsible citizens? Is ethanol fuel a ‘just cause?’ Here at B-theChange, we keep an open mind while arming you with the information you need to make sound, socially aware choices.

Ethanol doesn’t fall clearly into a good or bad category.

For our money WE WILL be making sure there is some ethanol in our gas to reduce our CO2 contribution and to improve the efficiency of our car engines. We WON’T be going out to buy an E85 vehicle just yet. We’re waiting to see what the scientists can do with our grass clippings.

TAKE ACTION:

Turn your knowledge into power and find out where to get ethanol, in this week’s “Tech and Tools”

Written by guest author: Shaun Conway

Start 2009 off on an eco-friendly foot with this calendar from Botanical Paperworks.

Not only is the calendar made from 100% post consumer paper, when you’re done with it you can plant it! All the pages contain wild flower seeds. Tear a month off, tuck it under some soil, add water, sunshine, and bam you’ve saved a tree, and planted flowers. You’re an eco-superhero.

The calendar was created by Heidi Reimer-Epp, and her mom Mary. They started a company that produces a whole line of plantable paper. They do wedding invites, thank you cards, confetti and more.

Compare that to your typical calendar, which uses paper from new trees, toxic substances for bleaching, and who knows what to give the paper gloss. The only down side we can think of about this calendar is that it has to be shipped in from Canada (fossil fuels) and that it comes packaged in a little tin. The website says the tin is reusable, but we can’t figure out what you’d use it for.

Where can I get one?