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pg, let's ask a different question. Measurements aside, is what they are offering really reducing the carbon footprint of a website? I would argue no, it does
by fluidrazor 18y ago
pg, let's ask a different question. Measurements aside, is what they are offering really reducing the carbon footprint of a website?
I would argue no, it does not. And here's why:
They are buying credits which make clean energy cheaper. The trickle down effect (not a reference to Reagan) means that others will be buying cheap energy, which is good, but it does not mean you will be buying cheap energy. So I don't see this as directly translating into reducing your carbon footprint. Moreover, who actually gets the reduction in their personal carbon footprint here: the person actually using the green energy or you, who helped pay for this energy by proxy. I would argue that it is to a much greater degree the person who actually bought this energy who gets most of the benefit. You would be much better off using your time to plant trees in proportion to the amount your site uses or finding a green hosting service than use CO2Stats.
Even if CO2Stats is measuring this even remotely accurately (which they couldn't possibly be), their model of buying these renewable energy credits still translates into a very low reduction in your actual carbon footprint.
Having said that... is their service worth whatever it costs? Most likely no, since for it to work you would have to pay a disproportionate amount to get an amount that would indeed offset your footprint. Is CO2Stats capitalizing off people's supererogatory desire to do good by nature, regardless of whether there are no benefits? You bet.
- dcurtis 18y agoYou can't argue that they aren't doing good for the environment. At least they're making a small impact, even if it's not a total "offset" of the internet experience. In fact, they don't even claim to offset it; they claim to "neutralize" it with clean energy in proportionate amounts.
- ivankirigin 18y agoActually increasing the supply of alternative energy could easily increase the demand for energy as energy prices decrease. There could be net greater CO2 output. CO2 offsets are bullshit. A more reasonable solution is to fund research into alternatives that are economically viable without subsidies. Tracking energy used, as CO2Stats does, is still an important part of the solution. But buying offsets doesn't necessarily mean you're doing good. On multiple levels, they are like buying an indulgence.
- dcurtis 18y agoThere will always be some amount of demand for energy. If you pump a little bit more wind powered energy into the grid that reduces the amount of demand on coal, then you're doing at least a little bit of good.
- ivankirigin 18y agoThat's not the way supply and demand work. Adding wind increases the supply and lowers the cost of energy, which increases the demand. It could easily cause a net increase in energy used. The fundamental problem is that you don't offset anything. Offsetting would be replacing conventional energy generation with alternative, and paying for the difference in cost, not just adding more energy. Your local energy provider probably has a program to do this. Call them up, and ask to spend more on energy. As they expand their generation capabilities, they do more alternatives according to your direction. That's a "real" offset.
- dcurtis 18y agoI think the certificates that CO2Stats buys actually do what you described as a "real" offset. It entices traditional energy suppliers to invest in clean energy.
- ivankirigin 18y agoI'll look into it. If so, awesome!
- ivankirigin 18y ago4. How do Renewable Energy Certificates help the environment? Renewable Energy Certificates guarantee that a certain amount of clean wind and solar electricity will be generated onto the power grid, displacing fossil fuel-based electricity generation. Since we measure the location and fuel makeup of your users and servers, we are able to purchase an equal amount of renewable energy to offset the non-renewable component of your energy footprint. The more renewable energy we support, the less non-renewable energy will be required in the future. http://www.co2stats.com/faq.php http://www.co2stats.com/faq.php I'm still a bit unclear on whose behalf they are buying energy.