The carbon offset market is growing, spurred by businesses and consumers who want to lessen their carbon footprint by investing in ventures like hydroelectric power or forest regeneration. Two experts on carbon credits took your questions.
Are the full lifecycle of technologies considered when calculating their carbon footprint?
Robert Danzberger asks
Is the carbon footprint created by all factors required to getting the windmills into operation taken into consideration on some level, whether by offsets addressed prior to operation of windmills, or as part of the equation for carbon credits?
Dan Kammen responds:
Yes, the full lifecycle of the construction, transport, installation, and use of technologies (windmills, biofuels, solar, etc.) can be taken into account. In the best assessments, this is done.
The state of California, for example, has adopted a 'Carbon Calculator' that my research group developed. We built a first version that is online at http://bie.berkeley.edu/calculator.html and a California-specific version on the state supported website http://www.coolcalifornia.org.
This calculator includes goods and services, energy, and vehicle purchases. Later commercial-sector versions will show the greenhouse gas inputs to energy systems, including wind, natural gas, coal, and a range of other technologies.
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