Buying Indulgences

I've had a lot of comments on the post about Al Gore's outrageous energy usage.  One thread has been about the fact that Gore buys carbon credits.  Here's an article that originally appeared in the New York Times and points out some of the weaknesses Gore's strategy of living large while paying someone else to live small.  (BTW, I've never been a Ralph Nader fan, but the man urges folks to live like a hermit...while he lives like a hermit.)  Gotta respect that. 

Yet if these operations reflect a new consciousness about climate change, scientists and environmentalists warn that many may be producing little of real value for the environment.

"These companies may be operating with the best will in the world, but they are doing so in settings where it's not really clear you can monitor and enforce their projects over time," said Steve Rayner, a senior professor at Oxford and a member of a working group on reducing greenhouse gases for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

"What these companies are allowing people to do is carry on with their current behavior with a clear conscience," Rayner said.

Comments

[Matt]

Since carbon/pollution offsets seem so popular, how about we expand the idea a little further. Here in AZ water is an issue. We should set up H2O offsets so that if I use less water I can sell my credits to a neighbor that uses more. If I want a pool, hot tub, green grass I just use all the water I want and buy someone elses H20 offset. If I use 30% more water than average and buy the "extra" I need from someone that uses 30% less, the aquifer still takes the hit for that total amount.

If I pollute 20% less, and sell that 20% to someone who pollutes 20% more we don't get less pollution. The total out put of pollution for the the two still equals the same, the only thing that has improved is my financial status. Carbon/Pollution offsets allow polluting industries/people to keep on polluting.

[BobH]

Apparently, one of the gifts handed out to Oscar presenters was gift certificates entitling them to 100,000 pounds of carbon emissions.

No, I'm not kidding:
http://www.ecorazzi.com/?p=1691

This is very nice, since it lets them fly the Gulfstream to Vail after the show and enjoy their skiing weekend with a clear conscience.

I think I'm going to go into the business of selling feel-good certificates.

Revenue:
Sell certificates for $100

Costs:
Printing certificates: $1.00 (they'll be really pretty and printed on recycled paper).
Building wind-power plants: Hmmm, I think we can probably print a lot more certificates if we eliminate this line-item.

Looks like a good plan to me.

[elinor stickney]

Is family size considered when making energy allotments? How about water consuming pets...(companion animals) Will there be a negative allotment for those having aquariums? What if one has frequent visitors? Will the certificates be sold publicly or will one have to have a contact? Will the certificate have to be posted on the back of my door (such as hotel rate)? If so, may I order customized printing which will blend with my decor?

[BobH]

Elinor:

When you buy from Honest Bob's Guaranteed Feel-Good Indulgences (I was considering "Sleep better with Honest Bob" as my slogan, but the ad agency thinks it needs tweaking), you get the the full range of customized certificates, tastefully designed for every decor and guaranteed to impress your guests both with your exquisite taste and your holier-than-thou righteousness. In addition, you get bumper stickers to put on your SUV.

As for convenience, you can buy at fine retailers everywhere, as well as ordering on-line.

We were considering offering a discount for on-line purchases, since you don't have to drive to buy them -- but really, who cares? If you've got an Honest Bob's Indulgence, you can drive all you want.