|
Keeping Canada Carbon-Neutral
 In “Taking Care with Carbon Offsets” (page 9), we outline the way these programs can help “consumers and businesses…take a leadership position in dealing with the challenge of global climate change.” Recently, Direct Energy took a large leap forward with the concept in Canada, offering the country’s first-ever carbon-neutral natural gas program.
The plan allows Canadian consumers to offset greenhouse gases they produce in their homes with carbon credits that fund clean energy projects around the world. The one-of-a-kind program is available in all Canadian markets where residential consumers have their choice of providers, including Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba and British Columbia.
“We are well past the tipping point on the climate change issue,” asserts Clinton Roeder, Direct Energy Senior Vice President of Energy Services. “Canadians are demanding that companies and governments work with them to provide options that address climate change, and energy companies like Direct Energy have a critical leadership role to play.”
For customers who choose the carbon-neutral option, Direct Energy will buy certified carbon emission credits to offset the greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere from the natural gas they consume. The money from the purchase of those credits will be used to fund global green energy and environmental sustainability projects. (Direct Energy’s first transaction, for example, was for offsets generated by capturing methane from a coal mine to prevent it from being released into the atmosphere.) By purchasing a carbon-neutral natural gas plan, consumers can be confident that when they use natural gas for things like appliances or heating, they are helping to offset the greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change.
“It’s important that consumers use energy wisely because climate change is real, and man-made carbon emissions are a major cause,” Roeder adds. “But even with the very best energy conservation efforts, most of us will still be responsible for creating greenhouse gases. A carbon-neutral plan enables customers to have a significant impact on their own carbon footprint—the total amount of carbon that their activities put into the atmosphere.”
Direct Energy’s carbon-neutral product is just one of a wide range of solutions the company offers to help consumers minimize their environmental impact. The company also provides customers with choice and support in their efforts to conserve energy through a portfolio of innovative products and services for both
residential and commercial use. | 