Carbon offsetting
Carbon offsetting is ‘…the process of compensating for the remaining carbon emissions balance by contributing, usually financially, towards solutions to reduce emissions elsewhere. Typically, this is put in practice by establishing carbon offset funds which then invest in renewable energy and other carbon reduction measures.’ Ref Climate Emergency Design Guide: How new buildings can meet UK climate change targets, published by the London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI) in January 2020.
Zero carbon building, Performance standard, Version 2, Published by the Canada Green Building Council in March 2021, defines carbon offset as: ‘A credit for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions that occur somewhere else and that can be purchased to compensate for the emissions of a company or project. High quality carbon offsets include third party verification of emissions reductions as well as additionality, longevity, and leakage criteria.’
Keeping 1.5°C Alive: Closing the Gap in the 2020s, version 1.0, published by the Energy Transitions Commission in September 2021, defines Carbon offsets as: ‘Reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) or greenhouse gases made by a company, sector, or economy to compensate for emissions made elsewhere in the economy.’
PAS 2080:2023 Carbon management in buildings and infrastructure, second edition, published by The British Standards Institution in March 2023, defines carbon offset as: ‘discrete reduction in greenhouse gas emissions not arising from the defined subject, made available in the form of a carbon credit meeting a defined set of requirements (as per PAS 2060:2014) and used to counteract emissions from the defined subject. NOTE Offsets can be generated via a variety of activities, including those that avoid or reduce emissions and those that remove carbon from the atmosphere. Additional information on offset categories is available in the Oxford principles for net zero aligned carbon offsetting (2020).’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
Electrotechnical excellence, now open for entries.
Net zero electricity grids BSRIA guide NZG 5/2024
Outlining the changes needed to transition to net zero.
CIOB Global Student Challenge 2024
Universitas Indonesia wins for second year running.
New project and cultural district described in detail.
The nature of EPCs, crticism and inaccuracies.
History, issues and redesign.
From waste recycling to energy performance the hierchy.
An introduction to WERCS and WEEE responsibilities
Dealing with 2 million tonnes of waste equipment a year.
Global BACS Market: analytics and optimisation
A BSRIA glance at building automation and control systems.
What it is and how to use it.
Types of insulating plaster by binder and insulant.
Investors in People: CIOB achieves gold
Reflecting a commitment to employees and members.
Scratching beneath the surface; a guide to selection.
ECA 2024 Apprentice of the Year Award
Entries open for submission until May 31.
UK gov apprenticeship funding from April 2024
Brief summary the policy paper updated in March.
For the World Autism Awareness Month of April.