Americans across the US have been experiencing a mild winter this year. However, you may also be wondering if the balmy temperatures point to climate change.
According to the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), part of the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this winter has been particularly warm. Looking at the winter-to-date period (December 2011-January 2012), temperatures across the contiguous United States were the fourth warmest on record. NCDC data records date back to 1895.
Global warming is a reality regardless of the season. The contiguous United States has been experiencing a long-term warming trend during all months of the year, including the winter season. In fact, winter-time temperatures across the lower 48 states have been increasing at about 0.16 degrees Fahrenheit per decade.
There are numerous global patterns and trends which can drive weather across a region of the globe or during a time of year. The warmer-than-average temperatures this season are consistent with climate change. However, the role of other climate phenomenon cannot be ruled out. Some other factors which influenced weather conditions this season were the presence of La Niña in the Equatorial Pacific, the North Atlantic Oscillation in the North Atlantic, and the Arctic Oscillation across the High Latitudes.
More information on the "State of the Climate" during this winter season can be found in the NCDC’s online reports.
JetBlue Airways- For Planet and People CarbonFree Travel Category Award
Written by Alterra
Today’s blog highlights our Travel Category winner, JetBlue Airways. Carbonfund.org congratulates and thanks them for their commitment to sustainable practices and to the support of important external carbon reductions.
JetBlue views sustainability as synonymous with social responsibility and is committed to reducing the environmental impact of both their crew and their customers. Through the Jetting to Green initiatives, they are allowing a portal for customers to mitigate the climate impact of their travel through customized calculators on Carbonfund.org’s site. However, JetBlue is leading by example. For the past two years, JetBlue has offset 100% their own business travel, supporting carbon mitigation projects equivalent to the emissions of their crewmembers’ travels. This is all in addition to their annual Spring campaign, One Thing That’s Green, that encourages crewmembers and customers, in all of the 70+ cities that JetBlue serves, to do one thing for the environment. This April JetBlue will launch the 5th annual One Thing That’s Green campaign.
JetBlue has been able to partner with Carbonfund.org through the leadership of the Corporate Responsibility Department, and in particular, Icema Gibbs.
ShareASale is a unique CarbonFree® Partner and one of the leading affiliate marketing solutions available. By connecting affiliates with the growing list of 2,500 merchants in the ShareASale network, they are providing award winning technology to both retailers and affiliates alike to drive sales and revenue. ShareASale Client Services offers affiliate program guidance and consulting options ranging from strategic planning and execution to creative design and implementation. Shareasale also runs a very successful blog maintained by Brian Littleton, President and CEO of ShareASale.com, Inc that covers a large variety of topics.
In addition to providing one of the most effective customer acquisition methods on the web, ShareASale is a strong supporter of Carbonfund.org. Their donations are supporting third-party validated carbon reduction projects that are fighting global warming today. Since heir continued support is the equivalent to offsetting the CO2 emissions from the 1300 cars per year, the carbon sequestered annually by over 1,400 acres of pine forest, or the greenhouse gas emissions avoided by recycling over 2,300 tons of waste instead of sending it to a landfill. ShareASale is making a real, measurable impact in the fight to stop climate change. We encourage all individuals and businesses to take action today and offset your carbon footprint!
CUB Enterprises Brings Socially-Responsible "Green" Brands to Customers
Written by Linda
Clai Unified Business Enterprises, Inc., aka CUB Enterprises, is a consolidated enterprise of several companies under the direction of Entrepreneur Christopher Clai. CUB Enterprises operates in several industries, including but not limited to: online media, information technology, marketing, business consulting, wellness, electrical consulting, broadcasting, sports, and entertainment.
The mission of CUB Enterprises is to provide socially-responsible brands and “be the change and innovation we seek to see in the industries we serve”. CUB Enterprises promises to remain innovative and cutting-edge, giving you the best possible solutions for all of your business needs.
Two of CUB Enterprises’ businesses include Innoverti and Nutrition Bear. Innoverti is a business services and marketing firm, specifically oriented toward start-ups, and small to medium businesses. Innoverti has five business verticals: general business consulting, online and offline marketing services, training, phone systems (VoIP), and web design focused on SEO. Innoverti also offers a wealth of free advice, and information for business’s on its blog from the founders of CUB Enterprises, Inc., other key team members, and guest bloggers. Innoverti began offering its services to companies in the 2nd quarter of 2011.
Launched in March 2011, Nutrition Bear is a customer-centric sports nutrition and personal wellness online retailer. Nutrition Bear strives to be a “partner” in its customers’ health and wellness goals by providing safe and potent products, rapid shipping, consumer education, and sound advice from certified professionals.
CUB Enterprises has focused on being a green company since its inception. Every year, the Board of Directors finds new ways to reduce the firm’s environmental footprint and encourage business partners and customers to do the same. CUB Enterprises:
- Purchases carbon offsets at the end of each fiscal year to make their operation carbon neutral;
- Offers a recycling program for nutrition bear customers who are unable to recycle their used containers, paying return shipping to have the waste properly recycled;
- Is working to make their organization paperless by 2013 and to offer solutions to help other industries make the transition as well;
- Operates a fuel-efficient fleet of vehicles that achieve a minimum 25 mpg or greater, and keeps them well maintained.
“Our environmental commitment is a core value to our company. We will lead our industry in green efforts as we grow. We chose to partner with Carbonfund.org because of their various projects, and the ease of doing business with them.” - Christopher Clai, CEO
Motorola Mobility- For Planet and People CarbonFree Products Category Award
Written by Alterra
Today’s blog highlights our CarbonFree Products winner, Motorola Mobility. Carbonfund.org congratulates and thanks them for their commitment to sustainable practices and to the support of important external carbon reductions. In 2009 Motorola was the first company in the world to introduce a CarbonFree mobile phone. In 2010 Motorola continued to innovate by introducing the worlds first carbonFree smartphone and mobile device accessories.
With certified CarbonFree® mobile device accessories, Motorola is a supporter in offering consumers an option that delivers the quality you expect from Motorola products while empowering you to reduce your carbon footprint. Motorola offsets the carbon dioxide required to manufacture, distribute and operate a variety of products through investments in third-party validated renewable energy and reforestation projects. Since 2009, Motorola has offered eco-conscious consumers carbon neutral product options. The success of Motorola’s CarbonFree® products program is due to the hard work of the Office of Sustainability and Stewardship, and in particular, Bill Olson and Emily Barton.
“Motorola Mobility is pleased to have partnered with CarbonFund.org to bring CarbonFree mobile phone and accessory products to market and provide people with great products built with the planet in mind.” Bill Olson, Director of the Office Sustainability and Stewardship, Motorola Mobility.
Mac-Gray Campus Solutions - For Planet and People Education Category Award
Written by Alterra
Today’s blog highlights our Education Category winner, Mac-Gray Campus Solutions. Carbonfund.org congratulates and thanks them for their commitment to sustainable practices and to the support of important external carbon reductions.
Celebrating 60 years in service, Mac-Gray Campus Solutions is the premier laundry service provider to over 600 college and university campuses. Since Mac-Gray launched its Lighten the Load™ initiative in 2008 with Carbonfund.org, they have partnered with 29 academic institutions to offset more than 40 million pounds of carbon. Through their Lighten the Load™ initiative they reduce their carbon footprint one school at a time while educating students on the benefits of being sustainable in the laundry room. Managing their impact on the environment is a corporate priority for Mac-Gray, achieved through a various guidelines beyond the carbon offset program. They encourage customers to reduce the environmental impact of their properties and facilities, offering them environmentally responsible solutions to accomplish this objective. They communicate with employees, customers, and suppliers about environmental issues and activities to encourage responsible behavior. They invest in the development of technology that will help reduce the impact our business activities on the environment. They conserve natural resources through the reuse and recycling of materials and by purchasing recycled materials whenever possible. And they encourage suppliers to provide products that are environmentally responsible, including the purchase of recycled materials.
“We are honored to receive the For People and Planet award from our partner, Carbonfund.org,” said Stewart G. MacDonald, Mac-Gray’s chief executive officer. “This award highlights Mac-Gray’s commitment to environmental sustainability. Our Lighten the Load™ initiative is helping to reduce the carbon footprints of college and university laundry programs, while educating students on the benefits of being ‘green’ in the laundry room. As the nation’s leading provider of laundry facilities management for the college market, we look forward to partnering with more academic institutions on this important initiative.”
Overstock.com - For Planet and People Retail Category Award
Written by Alterra
Today’s blog highlights our Retail Category winner, Overstock.com. Carbonfund.org congratulates and thanks them for their commitment to sustainable practices and to the support of important external carbon reductions
In 2011 Overstock.com, now known as O.co, initiated a CarbonFree® shipping program on all of their Worldstock items. This program, free to customers, illustrates wonderfully how companies can be good to both people and planet. Overstock.com gives all net profits from the Worldstock Fair Trade department to fund philanthropic projects in several countries. Worldstock funds have helped in the construction of an earth bag house, rain water harvesting tanks (to provide clean water to the orphans), composting toilet and shower units, just to name a few. Worldstock Fair Trade returns 60 to 70 percent of the sales dollars to the artisans that make the items for sale on Overstock.com’s site, which allows them to improve their economy, educational systems and communities. Now, by shipping carbon neutral, Worldstock items have the least impact on the Earth they seek to protect. This successful, socially responsible department would not be possible without the leadership of President, Jonathan E. Johnson.
About Overstock.com
Overstock.com is a technology-based retail company offering customers a wide variety of high-quality products, at great value, with superior customer service. The company provides its customers with the opportunity to shop for bargains by offering suppliers an alternative inventory distribution channel. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Overstock.com is a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ Global Market System and can be found online at http://www.overstock.com and http://www.o.co.
National Geographic Society - For Planet and People Media Category Award
Written by Alterra
Today’s blog highlights our For Planet and People Media Category award winner, National Geographic Society. Carbonfund.org congratulates and thanks them for their commitment to sustainable practices and to the support of important external carbon reductions.
The National Geographic Society has been inspiring people to care about the planet since 1888, including areas of geography, archaeology and
natural science, and the promotion of environmental and historical conservation. National Geographic has paid special attention to the impact of their own activities on the Earth and has truly lived up to Carbonfund.org’s motto to Reduce what you can, Offset what you can’t™. National Geographic recently worked with WWF to reduce CO2 emissions from operations by 80 percent by the end of 2010 and to reduce CO2 emissions from its magazine paper and printing materials supply chain by 10 percent by 2015. In 2007, they achieved LEED-EB Gold, and the NGS Headquarters also has placed these buildings in the top 25% of the most energy-efficient buildings in the USA. National Geographic keeps more than 60 percent of all its waste out of landfills, their employees are able to compost their lunch leftovers as well as the cafeteria's special compostable takeaway containers, cups, and straws. And this is in addition to a robust HQ recycling program including electronics, ink toners, metals, plant materials, and most building and office supplies. What they have been unable to reduce on their premises, they have offset with Carbonfund.org for -four years. This work would not be possible without the employee-driven efforts of their GoGreen Committee, and specifically Hans Wegner.
