Reduce your impact on global warming by offsetting your travel!
To purchase carbon offsets for your travel to and from 2009 New Partners for Smart Growth Conference, visit the conference registration page. When registering, select the voluntary contribution of $11 as part of your registration to support these important projects that contribute to the NPSG goal of a carbon neutral event.
A Green Event
Having the opportunity to meet face to face, connect and share our knowledge is an invaluable experience, as we collaborate on building safe, healthy and livable communities. At the same time, these events have associated impacts from travel and transportation, to the food, facilities and lodging necessary to support our meeting and exchange. As we approach our 8th annual New Partner’s for Smart Growth conference, planned for January 2009 in New Mexico, we have been mindful to ensure that the values we promote as an organization and community builder have been incorporated into our plans for this important event. The 2009 New Partners for Smart Growth Conference is committed to facilitating a "carbon neutral" event.
In planning for the event, great care was taken to incorporate sustainability considerations into the various aspects and activities for the conference. These actions include:
- Focusing on opportunities for resource conservation
- Reducing the amount of materials produced for the conference
- Encouraging the use of public transportation
- Working with the Albuquerque Convention Center to make sure the conference menu will include a largely local and organic menu
- Facilitating offsets for our impacts with the help of meeting participants and sponsors.
To accomplish our goal of carbon neutrality, we are offering participants the opportunity to offset the carbon impacts related to travel and participation in the conference by adding a nominal $11 to the conference registration fee. Carbon offsets will be purchased from two leading and reputable sources: The Climate Trust and Green Energy New Mexico. By participating in this opportunity, meeting attendees will support innovative projects that result in net carbon dioxide (CO2) reductions to the environment and fund the pursuit of renewable energy projects in New Mexico. Following is further information related to the organizations providing the offsets and renewable energy credits (Green Tags) for this event.t.
The Climate Trust
The Climate Trust is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to providing solutions to stabilize our rapidly changing climate. Its mission is to promote climate change solutions by providing high quality greenhouse gas offset projects and advancing sound offset policy. The Climate Trust's projects are expected to offset nearly 2.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from $8.8 million in investments – making them one of the largest and most experienced offset buyers in the U.S. and world markets. For more information about The Climate Trust and the associated projects supported by your contribution, please visit http://www.climatetrust.org. Additional information related to offset projects and the organization will be provided at the event.
Green Energy New Mexico
In order to also benefit the local community and state where the 8th annual New Partners for Smart Growth conference is being held, we selected an organization that promotes and supports renewable energy projects in New Mexico: Green Energy New Mexico.
The Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), the Regional Development Corporation (RDC) and the Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy (CCAE) have partnered to create Green Energy New Mexico, a program designed to enable individuals and businesses to support the development of renewable energy through the sale of renewable energy certificates (RECs), also called “Green Tags”. BEF will set aside twenty percent of the gross revenues generated from New Mexico Green Tags sales in a reinvestment fund. These funds will be committed to supporting the development of new renewable energy projects in New Mexico. Each BEF Green Tag is Green-e® climate certified, the nation's leading independent certification and verification program for renewable energy and greenhouse gas emission reductions in the retail market. Additional information can be found at http://www.greenenergynm.org.
HDR, Inc.
As LGC’s Sustainability Advisor for this event, HDR, Inc. provided resources to calculate the event’s estimated carbon footprint and support related to incorporating sustainable considerations into meeting planning and delivery. HDR is an employee-owned architectural, engineering and consulting firm with more than 7,500 professionals in 165 locations worldwide. HDR offers clients the best possible economic, social and environmental value by delivering integrated sustainable solutions. The Sustainable Solutions Program supports HDR’s collective effort to deliver high-quality sustainable solutions by catalyzing the skills, knowledge, and ability of professional staff. HDR's Sustainable Solutions Program includes an internal Corporate Sustainability Initiative, a Climate Change Initiative, and services in the following areas of expertise: buildings, mobility, water, energy, waste, community, site development, and economic and environmental modeling. Learn more at http://www.hdrgreen.com.
Putting it in perspective…
The 8th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth Conference’s estimated “carbon footprint” is 1100 Metric Tons of CO2. It may be difficult to conceptualize what “carbon footprint” calculations mean when viewing information related to the impacts of an event. We all know that smaller is better in the case of carbon footprint. Here are a few references to help us all put it in perspective†:
1 Ton of CO2e is emitted when you travel…
- 6655 miles on a light motorcycle (60 mpg)
- 6240 passenger miles on light rail
- 6220 miles in a gasoline hybrid vehicle (56 mpg)
- 5800 miles - two passengers carpooling in a small gasoline-powered automobile
- 5650 passenger miles on a long haul airplane (>994 miles between each stop)
- 5260 passenger miles on Amtrak
- 4930 passenger miles on a mid-range airplane (281-994 miles between each stop)
- 3340 passenger miles on an urban bus
- 3220 miles in a small gasoline powered vehicle (29 mpg)
- 2550 miles in a gasoline powered mid-sized car (23 mpg)
- 2310 miles in a diesel powered auto (24 mpg)
- 1555 miles in a large gasoline powered SUV (14 mpg)
- 1 Two-passenger carpool from Albuquerque to Portland, Maine and back in a mid-sized gas powered automobile (23 mpg)
The estimated CO2 equivalent impacts related to this event are equivalent to:
- 244 Average global citizens†† — annual CO2e emissions
- 244 Average US cars — annual emissions
- 177 Average US households — indirect CO2e emissions related to electricity consumption
- 52 Average US residents — annual CO2e emissions
Thank you again for your contribution toward helping us achieve our goal of hosting a carbon-neutral event!
Footnotes:
† These calculations are based on factors found in the GHG Protocol Mobile Sources Calculator, Version 1.3, January 2005 and Global Warming Mitigation Factoids from A Consumers’ Guide to Retail Carbon Offset Providers, Clean Air-Cool Planet.
†† The term “global citizen” represents the estimated average CO2 emissions of each and every person around the world.