What Is Sustainable?
Sustainable means meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs
What Is the Greenhouse Effect?
The increasing mean global surface temperature as a result of gases in the atmosphere
What Is Renewable Energy?
Energy generated from sources that are unlimited, such as wind and solar
What Is Meant by Carbon Footprint?
Calculated amount of carbon dioxide being put into the atmosphere as a result of business practices
What Does Carbon Neutral Mean?
As much carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere as a result of business practices is offset so the overall carbon footprint is zero
Why Did AAL Become Carbon Neutral?
This was a natural step in our company's evolution, where we have taken a more passive approach for years in reducing our waste stream and our energy footprint as well as eliminating heavy metals and VOC's from our processes. We, as a supplier to your market, had to take this responsibility one step further: to eliminate our carbon footprint, which in turn will assist you in gaining a LEED 'Innovation in Design' point.
How Does AAL Being Carbon Neutral Help with Earning an Innovation in Design Point?
In August 2007, USGBC announced projects seeking certification are eligible to earn an "Innovation in Design" point by using building products and materials that have been certified carbon neutral by a reputable, independent third-party certifier, and that the product's entire line of supply and manufacture is climate neutral.
In March, the USGBC defined what was required in order to earn the Innovation in Design point. The following excerpt is the ruling as outlined in the Innovation in Design Credit Catalog.
Climate Neutral Materials/Products
As of March, 2008
Ruling: In order to achieve an innovation credit, the project must adopt a comprehensive approach to Green House Gas reduction. Additionally, an appropriate performance threshold should be proposed to measure the success of the credit. A possible approach would be to :
1. Determine the Green House Gas (GHG) impact of the building or firm, AND
2. Use Climate Neutral products for a minimum of 1% of the total building materials based on cost.
Source: U.S. Green Building Council (www.usgbc.org)
How Did AAL Become Carbon Neutral?
Our carbon neutrality is the result of an extensive 14-month process in which we evaluated our carbon footprint based on the protocol established by The World Resources Institute through The Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol Initiative, as sanctioned by The World Business Council for Sustainable Development, in direct response to the 1997 Kyoto Japan Treaty on Global Warming.
What are the determinants for calculating an organization's carbon footprint?
• Emissions from fuel use in our facility
• Indirect emissions from purchased electricity
• Emissions from employee commuting
• Emissions from business travel and
• Emissions from inbound and outbound freight
To offset its carbon emissions, we have entered into an agreement with TerraPass - a San Francisco-based company that assists businesses in balancing out their carbon emissions by funding clean energy and efficiency projects that offset greenhouse gas emissions.
Why Did AAL Partner with TerraPass?
The biggest portion of AAL's, and most other manufacturers, carbon footprint is inbound and outbound freight. This encompasses all methods of freight used to transfer our products from our facility to the job site, as well as raw materials coming into our factory. This is not something we can control, so in order to truly become carbon neutral, we must offset the emissions generated from inbound and outbound freight with a third party.
Why Did AAL Choose TerraPass?
We chose TerraPass because they are a reputable carbon offset vendor, who provides verifiable proof that they made the offset purchase. Their carbon reduction and clean energy projects are verified by independent environmental auditors and the non-profit Center for Resources Solutions (CRS).
Visit www.terrapass.com for more information.
What Is a Carbon Offset?
A carbon offset is a certificate representing the reduction of one metric ton (2,205 lbs) of carbon dioxide emissions, the principal cause of global warming. Although complex in practice, carbon offsets are fairly simple in theory. If you develop a project that reduces carbon dioxide emissions, every ton of emissions reduced results in the creation of one carbon offset. Project developers can then sell these offsets to finance their projects.
There are hundreds of different types of carbon reduction projects. For example, a wind farm generates clean energy, which reduces carbon emissions from coal-burning power plants. In order to finance its operations, a wind farm can sell these reductions in the form of carbon offsets.
