Balance Carbon

  • Return to Summary of all Providers
    Primary activity : RetailerCarbon offset retailers either fund or purchase carbon offsets in large quantities and then on sell them to individual consumers in smaller quantities.    Price (per tonne CO2e) : AU$11 - AU$30

    Summary

    Balance Carbon's view on the role of carbon offsets in addressing climate change

    "Carbon offsets provide a pathway to help minimise your impact on climate change, when used in conjunction with a strategy to measure, manage and mitigate emissions from existing activities. In moving towards the low carbon economy, carbon offsets provide an important instrument of transition in a sustainable fashion. Balance Carbon has the role of helping organisations and individuals minimise their impacts on the atmosphere and environment through measurement, management and mitigation."


    Detailed InformationClick on the tabs below for more information:

    Summary

    Role in the Carbon Offset Market
    [Q1]Retailer
    Main client base
    [Q3]All types. Large Public Companies, SME's, NGO's, Government

    Offset Products

    Offset Products

    Price(s) per tonne
    [Q17]AU$11 - AU$30
    Project Type(s)
    [Q23]- Avoided deforestation
    - Afforestation / reforestation with Australian native vegetation (as opposed to locally appropriate)
    - Methane landfill
    Are offsets packaged with other services (such as footprinting, carbon neutrality etc)?
    [Q10]Yes

    [Find out more about project types]

    Offset Quality

    Offset Quality

    Organisation is licensed to provide financial advice (or to be an authorised representative in providing financial advice) in the context of brokerage of carbon commodities
    [Q23a]Information not provided
    Offsets generated and sold by Balance Carbon
    [Q33a]- Greenhouse FriendlyGreenhouse Friendly 'The Greenhouse Friendly™ initiative has been operating since 2001 to certify carbon neutral products and services and approve abatement credits for sale on the voluntary market, including to Greenhouse Friendly™ certified product and service providers. Introduction of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (the Scheme) has implications for Greenhouse Friendly™. The Scheme will have broad sectoral coverage, which means there will be less scope to pursue offset activities with offsets limited to emissions sources uncovered by the Scheme. This means the Scheme will impact on the types of abatement that can be provided, because abatement in sectors covered by the Scheme will no longer be additional to “business as usual”. For these reasons Greenhouse Friendly™ will wind up on 1 July 2010. Greenhouse Friendly™ certification of carbon neutral products and services will continue to operate until 1 July 2010. Applications for new abatement projects have closed. Abatement may be generated by current Greenhouse Friendly™ abatement providers up to 1 July 2010, and may still be sold and purchased after that date.
    - NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement SchemeNew South Wales Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme commenced on 1 January 2003 and targets are set until 2012. It is one of the first mandatory greenhouse gas emissions trading schemes in the world. GGAS aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production and use of electricity. For more information see here. NGACsNew South Wales Greenhouse Gas Abatement Certificate is a tradeable commodity used in the NSW GGAS. One NGAC represents the abatement of one tonne of CO2e associated with the consumption of electricity in NSW. NGACs are transferable certificates that may only be created by accredited abatement certificate providers.
    How does your organisation calculate the amount and price of carbon offset required by customers?
    [Q10]- Personal contact from customers wanting the service of carbon footprinting and (generic) offset purchase to achieve carbon neutrality
    Do you provide quality assurance or technical documentation on your web site or on request?
    [Q16]

    http://www.balancecarbon.com/bc_offsets

    Is your organisation audited by an independent third party for the sale and retirement of offsets and / or RECs?
    [Q16b] No
    Does your organisation supply National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS) or NCOS compliant abatement to customers from 1st July 2010?
    [Q18] Yes, NCOSNational Carbon Offset Standard. The National Carbon Offset Standard was released by the Commonwealth Government in November 2009, to come into effect on 1 July 2010 coinciding with the cessation of the Government’s Greenhouse Friendly program. It is intended to ensure that consumers have confidence in the voluntary carbon offset market and the integrity of the carbon offset and carbon neutral products they purchase. It provides guidance to businesses who wish to make their organisation carbon neutral or develop carbon neutral products in a way that achieves emissions reductions, through the purchase and retirement of carbon offsets that are beyond those achieved by the CPRS and achievement of Australia’s national emissions reduction targets. abatementA reduction in the amount or intensity of greenhouse gas emissions as a result of actions taken by a company or individual. (originated under this Standard only)
    [Q19]
    What evidence of purchase can customers expect to receive when buying carbon offsets from your organisation?
    - Certificate for amount of offset purchased
    - Certificate of RetirementIn the context of carbon offsets, this is the act of removing a carbon credit or permit from the market so that abatement cannot be traded any further. Retiring offsets helps to prevent the resale or reuse of offsets that have already been used. /Acquittal
    - Certificate of Transfer/Ownership
    - Tax Invoice
    What documentation is available to customers about the carbon offset project/s as part of the education and quality assurance process?
    [Q22]- We do not supply independent documentation to customers


    [Find out more about issues relating to offsetting]
    [Find out more about Certification Standards]

    Resources

    Resources

    Do you provide a carbon footprint calculation service for your customers?
    [Q12]- Yes, personalised assessment
    Carbon calculation - methodology, standards or guidelines
    [Q13]- NGA FactorsThe National Greenhouse Accounts (NGA) Factors is an Australian guide to emission factors from a range of sectors that is used by companies to calculate greenhouse gases. It is prepared by the Department of Climate Change and replaces the AGO Factors & Methods Workbook. For more information, see here.
    - GHG ProtocolThe Greenhouse Gas Protocol. The GHG Protocol is an international accounting tool for government and business to understand, quantify, and manage greenhouse gas emissions. It has been developed by a partnership between the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and provides an internationally accepted accounting framework for GHG standards and programs, as well as inventories prepared by individual companies.
    - ISO 14000ISO 14000 is a set of international standards, which provide a framework for the development of an environmental management system (EMS) and supporting audit programs. The ISO 14000 series are intended to help organisations comply with applicable laws, regulations and requirements and to continually improve on their environmental performance.
    - ISO 14064A global GHG accounting, reporting and verification standard. The goal of the standard is to 'provide a set of unambiguous and verifiable requirements or specifications to support organisations and proponents of GHG emissions reductions projects.'
    - Carbon Trust’s PAS 2050PAS 2050 is a product carbon footprinting standard. It provides a method for assessing the GHG emissions arising from products across their life cycle, from initial sourcing of raw materials through manufacture, transport, use and ultimately recycling or waste. The Carbon Trust and Defra co-sponsored the publication by the British Standards Institution of PAS 2050.
    Do you apply National Greenhouse Accounts Factors full fuel cycle emissions conversion factors to calculate customer emissions?
    [Q14]- Yes
    In your calculation of customer emissions which of the 6 Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gases do you include?
    [Q15]- Carbon dioxideA greenhouse gas that is produced as a by-product of oil and gas production, burning fossil fuels and biomassBiomass is non-fossilized and organic biodegradable material that can be used as fuel or for industrial production. Most commonly, biomass refers to plant matter grown for use as Biofuels, but it also includes plant or animal matter used for production of fibres, chemicals or heat. Biomass may also include biodegradable wastes that can be burnt as fuel. , as well as from all animals, plants, and a number of other natural sources. Carbon dioxide is the principal anthropogenic greenhouse gas that affects the earth’s temperature.
    - MethaneMethane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas with a GWPGlobal warming potential (GWP) measured in CO2e, is the potency of greenhouse gases, meaning their ability to trap heat in the atmosphere, through the difference in time greenhouse gases remain in the atmosphere, and their effectiveness in absorbing outgoing infrared radiation. The GWP is a numerical measure relative to carbon dioxide, the most abundant greenhouse gas. So carbon dioxide itself has a GWP of 1 and, for example, methane has a GWP of 21. of 21.
    - Nitrous oxideAgriculture accounts for the majority of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in Australia, The transport sector also contributes to emissions of N2O. N2O has a high global warming potentialGlobal warming potential (GWP) measured in CO2e, is the potency of greenhouse gases, meaning their ability to trap heat in the atmosphere, through the difference in time greenhouse gases remain in the atmosphere, and their effectiveness in absorbing outgoing infrared radiation. The GWP is a numerical measure relative to carbon dioxide, the most abundant greenhouse gas. So carbon dioxide itself has a GWP of 1 and, for example, methane has a GWP of 21. of about 310 times that of CO2A greenhouse gas that is produced as a by-product of oil and gas production, burning fossil fuels and biomass, as well as from all animals, plants, and a number of other natural sources. Carbon dioxide is the principal anthropogenic greenhouse gas that affects the earth’s temperature..it breaks down very slowly – over about 120 years
    - HydrofluorocarbonsMajor releases of HFCs are from leakageIn relation to carbon offsets, leakage is the direct or indirect increase in GHG emissions from a greenhouse gas reduction project, which is also measurable and attributable to the project. from refrigeration equipment during operation and its end-of-life destruction. Minor releases arise from the use of HFC-containing aerosols, air conditioners and metered dose inhalers.HFCs have very high global warming potentials (140 to 11,700 times that of carbon dioxideA greenhouse gas that is produced as a by-product of oil and gas production, burning fossil fuels and biomass, as well as from all animals, plants, and a number of other natural sources. Carbon dioxide is the principal anthropogenic greenhouse gas that affects the earth’s temperature.).
    - PerfluorocarbonsMost emissions of PFCsMost emissions of PFCs in Australia are generated during aluminium production. PFCs have extremely high global warming potentials (5000 to 10,000 times that of carbon dioxide). However, because they are only released in relatively small amounts, their contribution to global warming is minor. Due to their stability they have very long atmospheric lifetimes (thousands of years). in Australia are generated during aluminium production. PFCs have extremely high global warming potentials (5000 to 10,000 times that of carbon dioxideA greenhouse gas that is produced as a by-product of oil and gas production, burning fossil fuels and biomass, as well as from all animals, plants, and a number of other natural sources. Carbon dioxide is the principal anthropogenic greenhouse gas that affects the earth’s temperature.). However, because they are only released in relatively small amounts, their contribution to global warming is minor. Due to their stability they have very long atmospheric lifetimes (thousands of years).
    Other carbon management services
    [Q11]- Footprinting services
    - Advisory services
    - Carbon neutrality
    - Scoping customer emissions
    - Auditing
    - Emissions monitoring
    - Measuring and reporting services for carbon abatementA reduction in the amount or intensity of greenhouse gas emissions as a result of actions taken by a company or individual. projects
    - Energy EfficiencyEnergy efficiency improvements refer to a reduction in the energy used for a given service (heating, lighting, etc.) or level of activity. Such savings are generally achieved by substituting technologically more advanced equipment to produce the same level of end-use services (e.g. lighting, heating, motor drive) with less electricity. Auditing
    - NABERSthe National Australian Built Environment Rating System - is a national initiative managed by the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water. NABERS is a performance-based rating system for existing buildings. NABERS rates a building on the basis of its measured operational impacts on the environment, and provides a simple indication of how well you are managing these environmental impacts compared with your peers and neighbours.
    - GreenStar Assessments
    - Project development
    - Consultancy on emission reducing project options in Australia and Internationally

    [Find out more about carbon offsetting]

    Projects

    Project Information

    Greenhouse Friendly | QLD QLD Avoided deforestation Greenhouse Friendly (GHF)

    General Information

    This project is not owned by Balance Carbon | Avoided deforestation - Minding the Carbon Store


    Price per tonne of CO2e
    [Q24]

    $15-$22/tonne


    Quality

    Accreditation or certification achieved as at May 2010
    [Q33a]- Greenhouse FriendlyGreenhouse Friendly 'The Greenhouse Friendly™ initiative has been operating since 2001 to certify carbon neutral products and services and approve abatement credits for sale on the voluntary market, including to Greenhouse Friendly™ certified product and service providers. Introduction of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (the Scheme) has implications for Greenhouse Friendly™. The Scheme will have broad sectoral coverage, which means there will be less scope to pursue offset activities with offsets limited to emissions sources uncovered by the Scheme. This means the Scheme will impact on the types of abatement that can be provided, because abatement in sectors covered by the Scheme will no longer be additional to “business as usual”. For these reasons Greenhouse Friendly™ will wind up on 1 July 2010. Greenhouse Friendly™ certification of carbon neutral products and services will continue to operate until 1 July 2010. Applications for new abatement projects have closed. Abatement may be generated by current Greenhouse Friendly™ abatement providers up to 1 July 2010, and may still be sold and purchased after that date.
    Are the verified emission reductions created from this project NCOS compliant abatement?
    [Q36]

    - No

    Is this project additional to Australia's commitments under Kyoto
    [Q37]- Technically, abatement created from this project before March 2008 remains additional to Australia’s Kyoto commitments (Australia ratified the Kyoto Protocol on November 2007 and the agreement took effect at this time).

    Biosequestration Rule 5 NSW GGAS | NSW | SA NSW, SA Afforestation / reforestation with Australian native vegetation (as opposed to locally appropriate) Methane landfill NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme NGACs

    General Information

    This project is not owned by Balance Carbon | New South Wales Forestry project


    Price per tonne of CO2e
    [Q24]

    $12 - 20


    Quality

    Accreditation or certification achieved as at May 2010
    [Q33a]- NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement SchemeNew South Wales Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme commenced on 1 January 2003 and targets are set until 2012. It is one of the first mandatory greenhouse gas emissions trading schemes in the world. GGAS aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production and use of electricity. For more information see here. NGACsNew South Wales Greenhouse Gas Abatement Certificate is a tradeable commodity used in the NSW GGAS. One NGAC represents the abatement of one tonne of CO2e associated with the consumption of electricity in NSW. NGACs are transferable certificates that may only be created by accredited abatement certificate providers.
    Are the verified emission reductions created from this project NCOS compliant abatement?
    [Q36]

    - No

    Is this project additional to Australia's commitments under Kyoto
    [Q37]- Technically, abatement created from this project before March 2008 remains additional to Australia’s Kyoto commitments (Australia ratified the Kyoto Protocol on November 2007 and the agreement took effect at this time).

    Contact Details

    Contact Details

    For more information please contact:

    Balance Carbon
    www.balancecarbon.com
    1300 7754 10
    370 Unley Road, Unley Park SA 5167
    Information Submitted by Balance Carbon in April 2010