CarbonZero FAQ

Carbon offsets: your contribution to climate action
Whenever somebody drives, flies or uses energy to power homes and businesses, climate-polluting carbon emissions are released. Through CarbonZero, businesses and individuals can take action by neutralizing the emissions that can’t be reduced by contributing to carbon-reducing projects. Tens of thousands of people and companies - ranging from actors and athletes to families and executives - have already gone carbon neutral. And increasingly customers are demanding products and services that make a lighter impact on the world’s climate.

How do offsets help the environment?
Carbon Offsets allow individuals and businesses to neutralize their emissions by providing an easy way to contribute money to windfarms, energy retrofits and other carbon-reducing projects.

How do offsets work?
Offsets allow individuals to take responsibility for the emissions that they produce. For example, when Joe takes a flight from Montreal to Vancouver, he can go to www.CarbonZero.ca to calculate the emissions from his flight.

How can I be sure that CarbonZero will offset my emissions properly?
CarbonZero is the only major Canadian offsetting company that invests solely in the types of offset projects approved of by major environmental groups like the David Suzuki Foundation and WWF. We only invest in renewable power and energy retrofitting projects, foregoing forestation projects that have questionable value as carbon sinks.

How are offsets verified?
CarbonZero attaches the most strict standards as approved of by reputable environmental groups when such standards exist. CarbonZero ensures that all its practices are verified by independent third parties.

How do I sign up?
Once you join AutoShare, you register for the program through the onlie reservation system.

How much does it cost to offset my driving? (less than 0.5¢ per km)

• Dodge Cargo minivan - 0.75¢
• Dodge Passenger minivan - 0.61¢
• Honda Civic Hybrid - 0.32¢
• Honda Fit wagon - 0.43¢
• Mazda 3 sedan - 0.45¢
• Mini Cooper - 0.45¢
• Mini Cooper convertible - 0.52¢
• Suzuki Aerio wagon - 0.53¢
• Toyota Corolla sedan - 0.41¢
• Toyota Echo sedan- 0.40¢
• Toyota Matrix Wagon - 0.47¢
• Toyota Prius Hybrid - 0.34¢
• Toyota Yaris Hatchback - 0.44¢
• Toyota Yaris sedan - 0.40¢
  

What specific Project is my money invested to?
CarbonZero has a range of offset projects on the go. Because offset projects must be additional (ie. financing from offsets is necessary to carry out the project), it isn’t always possible for CarbonZero to tell which exact project your money is going to before you sign up.

What % of my money is actually invested into carbon offsets?
75% of your money goes to funding and verifying CarbonZero’s offset projects.

What % goes to administration?
25% of your money goes to maintain CarbonZero’s costs like salaries, rent and utilities.

How will I be invoiced?
AutoShare will calculate your total driving for the month and invoice you for the total offset amount during the next months invoice. The charge will appear in the “Fees, Credits and Gas/Car Wash” section of your invoice and will look as a single charge (displaying the total Kms driven that month times the average rate based on the types of vehicles driven). On an annual basis AutoShare will provide you with a report including all trips, charges, and emission offset contribution.

Does car-sharing reduce my carbon emissions compared to owning a car?
Yes. Autoshare members typically drive as much as 50% less after joining, a savings calculated as over 1 tonne of CO2 per year. With over 6,000 members driving as many as 3 million fewer kilometers this year, the benefit to our environment is already considerable. Working with CarbonZero means that their impact can now be reduced even further, or eliminated entirely. Additionally, even if we assume that your driving patterns remain the same, you still save on the ‘embodied’ emissions needed to produce a new vehicle.

What Carbon Offset Method will be used?
CarbonZero will offset your driving emissions through alternative energy projects in Canada, potentially Ontario. Due to increased scientific scrutiny over the practice of forestation in emissions offsetting, CarbonZero has phased out their tree offsets and thus will not be providing this method as an option.