Thanks for visiting the new and improved NetGreen! As you may have noticed, our website has undergone some significant changes – not the least of which is our URL! 2008 was a year of change for NetGreen. The company changed ownership and joined forces with Climate Clean, Inc. In doing so, NetGreen moved its headquarters from Seattle, WA to Portland, OR. We’ve got a spiffy logo, meaningful and exciting offsets and a new hollistic take on what it means to live a green lifestyle.
The new NetGreen promises to take a proactive roll in reducing greenhouse gases. We love to be out and about and frequently make appearances at local festivals and sustainability fairs, so keep your eyes open and you just might see us around town!
The reason I am offsetting the carbon use I cannot avoid is simple. In my mind, it is an equitable way to account for the damage I am causing the environment, even as I seek ways of lowering the damage I do. I have a house with a gas stove and furnace, and I’m not going to freeze or starve, so burning fossil fuel will happen. I have family on the East Coast, and flying is the only time saving way to visit. The NetGreen program has thoroughly investigated offset programs, so I am confident that my small monthly contribution of $15 is adding to a pool of funds that will be put to work finding offsets that would not be funded otherwise, and that will eventually add to renewable energy sources. I look upon offsets as a voluntary tax for the good of the planet.
- Andrea Faste, Sustainable Ballard, Seattle
Saltwater Unitarian Universalist (Saltwater UU) Church of Des Moines, WA is pleased to be able to offset our Carbon Footprint. Saltwater UU Church is located on five wooded acres nearby Saltwater State Park in Des Moines, Washington. The church has been in South King County since 1954. Environment is very important to UUs and is reflected in the 7th principle for Unitarian Universalism which states “respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part”.
Our larger organization offers guidance in becoming a “Green Sanctuary” – a designation of what we are doing to fulfill our responsibility to care for our planetary home.
To begin, we conducted an environmental ‘audit’ and a resultant plan was established which included, among other things:
- Energy Conservation and Environmental Practices
- Environmental Justice
- Sustainable Living
By collaborating with Achieve NetGreen, their valuable assistance helped us implement the Carbon Footprint aspect of our Environmental Practices. With their useful suggestions, calculations and assistance with assessing our 3 acres of trees, wetlands and forest, we received support from our members for yearly funding to “Offset our Carbon Footprint”. We are delighted our funds are used to fund wind energy and agricultural methane projects – both clean energy projects, which replace the burning of coal.
Examples of some of our other efforts have included recycling projects, replacement with compact fluorescent bulbs, programmable thermostat installation, funding six Microbanks, fair trade coffee, earth day services, solstice and equinox celebrations, energy reduction family pledges and removal of invasive plants, trail improvement and native plant interpretive signs. Our children, youth and adult programs incorporate environmental conscience behavior and curriculum.
We have much continued and ongoing work to do, but feel we have taken a big ‘footprint step’! The members of Saltwater UU are grateful for the education, information and opportunities Achieve NetGreen provided which enabled us to become a Carbon-Neutral Church in South King County.
- Kathy Linnell, Saltwater Unitarian, Des Moines, Washington
At 56 I was a teenager during the revolution of ideas in the 60’s. It was a countercultural revolution begging the question, if you see and agree that the status quo isn’t working and is ultimately threatening the wellbeing of the planet what can be done? I am thrilled that there is an affordable effective opportunity to make a difference and put my money where my mouth has been.
- Todd Armstrong, Owner, Armstrong Contracting Inc., Seattle
Net Green offers us a proactive solution for being responsible for our carbon footprint on the planet. The least I can do for my clients is to make their new home carbon neutral for one year when they work with me. It’s a gift that plants the seed and begins a conversation about energy, our homes, our habits and what we are doing about it. Net Green began the conversation for me, and even still I am just hitting the tip of the iceberg for what is possible.
- Amy Lindsey of Rockwell Realty, Seattle
