The recent emergence of the carbon footprint concept is a good indication of the public’s increasing sensitivity to climate change causes and impacts. This footprint is a measurement of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by all of the activities of an individual or organization. Sophisticated footprint calculations measure all of these emissions, while basic footprints capture carbon dioxide emissions within selected parameters.
Kendall Foundation staff calculated the Foundation’s basic carbon footprint for the 2005 calendar year, based on carbon dioxide emissions from office operations, internal paper usage, and staff transportation. Our small staff of five caused the emission of 42.5 tons of carbon dioxide over these 12 months. With an expansion in staff and programs, our 2006 emissions grew to 60.2 tons of carbon dioxide.
We are committed to direct and immediate reductions in our carbon emissions. We have initiated efforts to reduce our footprint through improving energy efficiency in the office and undertaking behavioral changes to limit energy and fossil fuel consumption. We will combine such reduction strategies with the carbon offset approach to minimize our carbon footprint.
We have purchased offsets to cover all of our 2005 and 2006 carbon dioxide emissions. Offsets are one mechanism to mitigate an organization’s GHG emissions by investing in off-site projects that negate a quantifiable amount of emissions. Qualifying offset projects achieve reductions by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (sequestration) or by preventing its initial release (renewable energy and energy efficiency installations). Third party organizations often facilitate offset purchases; these brokers identify and certify offset projects and also evaluate the emission reduction potential of prospective projects to determine the necessary investment to counter-act calculated GHG emissions.
The Kendall Foundation has purchased offsets by investing in the development of methane renewable energy on Pennsylvania dairy farms. This project will prevent the release of greenhouse gases, enabling us to ‘offset’ 43 tons of carbon dioxide emissions from 2005 and 61 tons of carbon dioxide emissions from 2006.
This effort represents an on-going process, and the Foundation intends to assist its grantees in similar undertakings.
To learn more about the carbon footprint project, read about the Kendall Foundation's experiences and lessons learned.
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