Design Evolution: Design Evolution is Carbon Neutral

Okay, don't laugh. I'm as irritated by green washing as you are. However, I'm also a believer in the theory that every little bit helps. It's because of this that I felt it worthwhile to participate in the “My blog is carbon neutral” program.

Here's some information on what the project is all about:

“My blog is carbon neutral” is an initiative, originally started in Germany by the “Make it Green” programme, that has the goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. They plant a tree for each participating blog and thereby neutralize the blog’s carbon footprint for the next 50 years. Everyone can make a small contribution to the environment.

According to a study by Alexander Wissner-Gross, PhD, physicist at Harvard University and environmental activist, an average website causes about 0.02g (0,0008oz.) of carbon dioxide for each visit. Assuming an average blog gets 15,000 visits a month, it has yearly carbon dioxide emissions of 3,6kg (8lb.). This can mainly be tracked back to the immense energy usage from (mainframe) computers, servers, and their cooling systems.

To neutralise these emissions the Make It Green Program has created these My blog is carbon neutral buttons so bloggers can demonstrate that they care about the environment and the carbon footprint of their blogs. It is a small but nontheless worthy solution to contribute to environmental issues.

Trees will be planted in cooperation with the Arbor Day Foundation in Plumas National Forest in Northern California for the project to neutralize the carbon footprint of blogs. Thousands of wildfires burned down many national forests over the past ten years and 88.000 acres of Plumas' were destroyed by two fires in 2007. To help replanting they need the support of bloggers all over the world!

If you are interested in participating this is all you need to do:

- Write a blog post about the initiative + insert your favourite button
- E-mail the link to your post to CO2-neutral@kaufda.de
- That's it! A tree is planted for your blog in Plumas National Forest

Just so that you are aware I did so some research about the project before I decided to participate. The Arbor Day Foundation has confirmed that this program is legitimate and they have in fact planted trees in conjunction with the foundation.