EcoVoom Q&A

Topics

Carbon Dioxide and Climate Change
Clean Energy Credits
About My Purchase
Who is EcoVoom?

Have more questions?

Don't see the answer to your question below? Give us a call at 866.797.VOOM(8666), or send us an email. customerservice@ecovoom.com

Carbon Dioxide and Climate Change

Why are carbon dioxide emissions harmful to the environment?

Much of today's energy comes from non-renewable resources such as oil, natural gas and coal. When these types of energy are consumed, carbon dioxide, in addition to other greenhouse gases, is emitted into the air. Carbon dioxide, along with these other gases, creates a virtual “bubble” in our atmosphere that prevents infrared radiation from escaping. As energy consumption increases, more carbon dioxide is emitted into the air, which thickens the “bubble” and prevents even more infrared radiation from being released. This can result in an overall change in the Earth’s climate, including warmer temperatures. A warmer climate can have a negative impact on all aspects of our life, from our ecosystems to our own personal health.

How can I reduce my carbon dioxide emissions?

There are several simple steps you can take to reduce your carbon dioxie emissions, such as conserving energy or utilizing energy efficient equipment. Check out our EcoLinks section for conservation tips you can use both at home and in the office,

What’s my Carbon Footprint?

Your Carbon Footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases produced by your personal or professional activities, such as heating and cooling your home or business, driving, flying or using other electricity powered devices. Your Carbon Footprint is typically measured in equivalent metric tons of CO2 per year.

What is carbon offsetting?

It is the act of balancing your personal Carbon Footprint through the purchase of EcoVoom’s Clean Energy Credits. It is also known as “balancing your footprint”. By offsetting your Carbon Footprint, you're making a positive impact on our climate and helping the planet breathe easier. For more information, please see our Quick Education section.

What is Climate Change?

Climate Change is defined as continuous changes in the Earth's climate over time. These changes can be caused by a number of factors but, most recently, much of the attention has been focused on human activities that lead to an increase of carbon dioxide emissions being released into the atmosphere. These activities include the burning of fossil fuels or changing the Earth’s surface through deforestation, urbanization, or desertification. It can also occur from natural factors such as changes in the sun’s intensity or natural processes such as changes in ocean circulation.

What can I do about Climate Change?

By purchasing Clean Energy Credits and therefore balancing your Carbon Footprint, you can have a positive impact on Climate Change and help the planet breathe easier.

What can I do to spread the word about Climate Change and Clean Energy Credits?

EcoVoom provides you with several easy ways to let your friends, family and customers know that you have done your part:

EcoVoom will email you an official, personalized certificate with the details of your Clean Energy Credit purchase.
You will receive an EcoVoom window decal to display in your car or business so you can let everyone know that you are helping the planet breathe easier.
Business customers also have the opportunity to display the EcoVoom logo on their web site to show their support of clean energy.
Finally, tell others about EcoVoom.com and how they can have a positive impact on Climate Change by purchasing Clean Energy Credits and supporting clean energy.

^ top

Clean Energy Credits

What are Clean Energy Credits?

A Clean Energy Credit represents either: (1) the amount of new, clean energy your purchase has placed into the electric grid; or (2) the amount of carbon dioxide your purchase has removed from the atmosphere. In either case, one Clean Energy Credit is equivalent to offsetting one metric ton of carbon dioxide from your personal Carbon Footprint. Purchasing Clean Energy Credits establishes your personal, legal property right to the “clean attributes” associated with renewable energy or "carbon credits" from energy efficiency projects.

What are Carbon Offsets?

Carbon offsets are one way for you to reduce the impact of your Carbon Footprint. There are other important steps you can take to lighten your impact on the Earth, such as conserving energy or utilizing energy efficient equipment. However, it is nearly impossible to reduce your entire Carbon Footprint in these ways. To truly balance your Carbon Footprint, it is necessary to purchase what are generally known as carbon offsets. EcoVoom’s carbon offsets are called Clean Energy Credits. For more information, please see our Quick Education section.

How do Clean Energy Credits reduce carbon dioxide emissions?

By purchasing Clean Energy Credits, you are supporting the development of clean energy projects. These projects include the production of renewable energy from sources such as wind, biomass and solar. Renewable energy adds significantly less carbon dioxide emissions than non-renewable resources. To see how clean energy can replace carbon dioxide-emitting dirty energy in our electric system, click here. Clean energy projects also include certain industrial, commercial, transportation and residential efficiency efforts where energy consumption is reduced or less carbon dioxide is emitted by modifying industrial processes, along with carbon sequestration projects that capture carbon dioxide emissions preventing them from reaching the atmosphere.

How often should I purchase Clean Energy Credits?

When you calculate your Carbon Footprint using EcoVoom’s Carbon Calculator you determine the amount of carbon dioxide you personally emit in one year. Our Balance Sheet shows you how many Clean Energy Credits you need to purchase to offset that amount of carbon dioxide. If you choose to offset 100% of your Carbon Footprint, you will only need to purchase Clean Energy Credits once a year.

I purchased Clean Energy Credits last year. Do I need to buy them again?

Clean Energy Credits offset the amount of carbon dioxide that you have emitted over the course of one year. In order to maintain a balance between your Carbon Footprint and the Earth, you should recalculate your Carbon Footprint and purchase more Clean Energy Credits at least once a year.

Can I become completely carbon neutral with Clean Energy Credits?

Yes, if you choose to offset 100% of your Carbon Footprint as determined by our Carbon Calculator. EcoVoom will also do a little more for those who become carbon neutral or in EcoVoom terms, go "Max." As a thank you for these efforts, EcoVoom will add one additional Clean Energy Credit to each order at no extra cost. Please note that the more information you enter into the calculator, the more accurate your footprint amount will be.

What do I get when I purchase a Clean Energy Credit?

First and foremost, you receive the satisfaction of knowing you have done something good for the Earth. To recognize your efforts, EcoVoom will email you an official personalized certificate with the details of your purchase. In addition, you will receive an EcoVoom window decal for your car so you can let others know that you have done your part.

EcoVoom will also do a little more for those who go "Max." EcoVoom Max customers are those who have decided to balance out 100% of their Carbon Footprint. As a thank you for these efforts, EcoVoom will add one additional Clean Energy Credit to each order at no extra cost. With that, EcoVoom Max customers will know that they have done even more than their part for the Earth.

For EcoVoom business rewards, please visit our EcoVoom Rewards section for details.

Can I see what projects my money will support?

Yes. All of the credits we purchase are directly connected to specific clean energy projects. We believe this direct connection is important to our customers so that they can track their support both locally and nationally.

We have also customized our clean energy packages with your community in mind. EcoVoom believes having projects in your area is important - not only to us, but to you as well. As EcoVoom expands, we will continue to add clean energy projects in areas throughout the country. Please review the EcoProjects section of our website, to see if we currently support projects in your area.

How do I know that my money actually went to support clean energy projects?

Every EcoVoom customer will receive an annual report prepared by a third party auditing firm verifying that our sales equate to the actual number of credits that were purchased. This process is meant to ensure that your Clean Energy Credits were actually purchased in your name from qualified projects to offset your Carbon Footprint. To learn more about our Verification Standards, please click here.

Are Clean Energy Credits a permit to use as much energy as I want?

No. By purchasing Clean Energy Credits, you’re taking responsibility for your Carbon Footprint. While this is a great way to reduce your carbon dioxide emissions, you should also take other steps to lighten your impact on the Earth, such as conserving energy or using energy efficient equipment. By doing all of these things together, you are doing your part to help the planet breathe easier. For other suggestions, please see our EcoLinks section.

^ top

About My Purchase

How do I determine my Carbon Footprint?

EcoVoom’s Carbon Calculator will help you determine how many metric tons of carbon dioxide you currently produce through your daily activities. Your footprint is easily determined by answering several simple questions about your home energy use, driving, and flying. To calculate your Carbon Footprint, visit Voom Me or Voom My Business.

What if I don't know all my informaton?

If you don’t know all of your information, simply click the Use Averages link on our calculator and we'll determine your Carbon Footprint based on national averages. However, if you would like to enter your personal information but don’t currently have it, we provide an easy way to bookmark your place so that you can come back and finish the calculator at a later time.

How do I pay for Clean Energy Credits?

The EcoVoom Balance Sheet allows you to pay for your Clean Energy Credits using MasterCard, Visa or through your local bank account. You wil pay for your purchase at the time of enrollment. If your total purchase exceeds $75.00, EcoVoom offers a monthly payment option.

I'd like to change carbon inputs on the calculator, but I've already purchased some Clean Energy Credits. What can I do?

When you enroll with EcoVoom, you establish an online account with us. At any time you can come back to our website and log in to view details, such as your Carbon Footprint and Clean Energy Credits. Once you have logged in, you can reset your Carbon Footprint by walking through the Carbon Calculator again. Please see the My Account section for details.

Can I cancel my Clean Energy Credit purchase?

You can cancel your plan within thirty days of purchase. Please see the My Account section for details.

I received a notice to update my credit card information. How do I do that?

To update your credit card information, click the My Account and log in. There you can update any necessary billing information or edit your profile.

^ top