Frequently Asked Questions

Q -What is global warming?

A - Global warming has been defined as the progressive gradual rise of the Earth's average surface temperature caused in part by increased concentrations of Greenhouse Gases in the atmosphere. According to the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, an independent, non-profit scientific and public policy research organization:

“The scientific community has reached a strong consensus regarding the science of global climate change. The world is undoubtedly warming. This warming is largely the result of emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from human activities including industrial processes, fossil fuel combustion, and changes in land use, such as deforestation. Continuation of historical trends of greenhouse gas emissions will result in additional warming over the 21st century, with current projections of a global increase of 2.5ºF to 10.4ºF by 2100, with warming in the U.S. expected to be even higher. This warming will have real consequences for the United States and the world, for with that warming will also come additional sea-level rise that will gradually inundate coastal areas, changes in precipitation patterns, increased risk of droughts and floods, threats to biodiversity, and a number of potential challenges for public health.”

A - "Carbon Offsets" or "Carbon Credits" represent the regulatory or market value of the steps taken by regulated industries – or by the sponsors of renewable energy projects, energy efficiency projects, and other environmental quality initiatives – to reduce or counteract the effects of air pollution from specific sources below the levels that are otherwise required by applicable law.

Verified carbon offsets, also known as Verified Emissions Reductions (VERs), are claimed reductions in emissions that have been audited by an independent third party and determined to satisfy the particular criteria established for regulatory purposes or for a voluntary offset registration and retirement program. The carbon offsets available on e-BlueHorizonsSM have been audited and verified through a rigorous monitoring and reporting protocols established by the Environmental Resources Trust, Inc. (ERT), a leading environmental non-profit organization, for the American Carbon Registry.

The American Carbon Registry protocols for validating GHG emission reduction projects and for verifying claimed reductions in emissions are consistent with guidelines established by the International Panel on Climate Change of the United Nations, the Chicago Climate Exchange, the Environmental Defense Fund, and other agencies and organizations concerned with climate change and sustainable development.

A - The Conservation Fund is a national environmental nonprofit dedicated to protecting America’s most important landscapes and waterways for current and future generations. Since 1985, the Fund has protected more than 5 million acres across the country, which stands today as a lasting legacy of national parks and wildlife refuges, community open space and recreation areas.

Since 2001, The Conservation Fund has been recognized as the nation’s top-rated environmental nonprofit by the American Institute of Philanthropy for its unsurpassed efficiency and effectiveness. In 2005, the Fund received the highest “four star” grade from Charity Navigator, making it one of the few charities to receive top marks from both watchdog organizations. To read more about the work of The Fund, click "The Conservation Fund".

A - To help fight climate change. In 2001, as part of its mission to protect the nation’s outdoor heritage, The Conservation Fund launched a climate change program called carbon sequestration through reforestation. This initiative enables individuals, communities and companies to fight global warming -- simply by planting trees. As trees grow they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, providing a proven solution for global warming but also resulting in other benefits for the environment such as restoring wildlife habitat, enhancing air and water quality and providing flood control. Through this program, the Fund has protected 20,000 acres and planted five million trees, which will capture approximately 10 million tons of CO2 over the next 70 years. Proceeds from transactions on e-Blue HorizonsSM shared with The Conservation Fund will directly support this reforestation effort.

A - Projects that capture and destroy methane at municipal solid waste landfills where the active capture and use of such methane is not mandated. Methane is a greenhouse gas that has a global warming potential 21 times that of carbon dioxide, according to the International Panel on Climate Change of the United Nations. That means that each ton of methane released to the atmosphere has 21 times the heat trapping potential as one ton of carbon dioxide emissions. Every time a ton of methane is captured and prevented from escaping to the atmosphere, it has the same beneficial environmental effect as preventing 21 tons of carbon dioxide from escaping to the atmosphere.

Detailed information about the projects at which the e-BlueHorizons offsets are generated may be found in, the following documents: Project No. 1 (PDF,15.3k); Project No. 2 (PDF,18k).

A - Because they are verified offsets (a.k.a. "Verified Emissions Reductions"). See "What are verified emission offsets?" above.

A - No. The very purpose of the transaction is to retire the offsets –thereby preventing their future use or re-sale – not to transfer ownership.

A - When you place an order on e-BlueHorizonsSM, the following will occur:

• The transaction will immediately be posted to the e-BlueHorizonsSM transaction data base, resulting in a debit to (i.e., a reduction in) the current quantity of offsets available for retirement in the e-BlueHorizonsSM inventory. Each transaction will be identifiable by a unique transaction number.
  
• Periodically, but no less frequently than monthly, a record of the transaction along with all others that occurred during that period, will be transmitted to the Environmental Resources Trust for entry into the Trust’s own American Carbon Registry™. for entry of each individual offset retirement transaction on the e-BlueHorizons project account. Generally you will be able to see the effect of your transaction on the American Carbon Registry™ within 45 days of the date of your transaction. To go to the register, click: American Carbon Registry™. Each transaction is identifiable by the e-BlueHorizons transaction number, the transaction date, the quantity of offsets to be retired, and the name of the person or organization in whose name the retirement transaction has been made.


• e-BlueHorizonsSM will report the transaction to the U.S. Department of Energy program for Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases in a manner consistent with the requirements and procedures of that program. Currently, updates to the U.S. DOE program registry take place annually.

A - When you place an order on e-BlueHorizons^SM, the resulting retirement of GHG offsets is "consideration" for the payment you make. It is our understanding that payments for which consideration is received typically do not qualify as charitable contributions. Please consult your own tax advisor.

A – e-BlueHorizons is owned by CommonWealth Resource Management Corporation, a Massachusetts-based firm that provides environmental consulting services and that develops, owns and operates renewable energy projects. Additional information about CommonWealth Resource Management can be found at www.crmcx.com.