Solution Living Blog

When my husband and I went on our trip-close-enough-to-our-wedding-to-be-called-a-honeymoon in 2008, I sought out a way to offset our flights’ carbon emissions. Trusty Google led me to an organisation called Carbon Neutral who would plant the equivalent number of trees to counter the effect my burnt up plane fuel would have.

It was a nice, neat, over-the-internet transaction that made me feel slightly better about the trip. But wait, not only did I receive this attractive fridge magnet (below), but I was able to claim the donation as a tax deduction. I felt much better about the trip once I could see my itinerary stuck to the fridge every morning and ask the ATO for some money back later.

According to its website, Carbon Neutral is:

“a not for profit company working with hundreds of organisations and thousands of individuals to measure, reduce and offset greenhouse gas emissions and implement revegetation projects.”

The idea is to:

• Reduce soil erosion
• Help combat salinity
• Provide wind breaks
• Improve biodiversity
• Provide habitat for native animals
• Sequester carbon dioxide.

Not having jetset anywhere for several years, I’d forgotten about this initiative. Until this week anyway, when Carbon Neutral sent out an email inviting me to turn my car’s emissions into trees – just in time for the end of the financial year. There are several methods you can use to calculate how much to donate – either through averages or actual data that you enter.

I estimate that we use our Diesel engine car to drive 100kms a week (being generous) with an average fuel efficiency of 7.7L per 100km (our car tells us this is so).  This means we use 400.4 L per year and emit 1.16 tonnes of CO₂.

Turns out I need to have 7 trees planted on my behalf and pay a tax-deductible $24.50 for the privilege. It’s not just for car use – using an online calculator you can work out and offset your:

• energy
• waste
• fuel use
• air travel
• food
• freight, paper and public transport use

For each tax deductible donation of $3.50 Carbon Neutral will establish one tree or shrub in regional Australia I know there are many competing worthy causes vying for your attention and tax deductible donation dollars, and this is one way of ensuring a diversified portfolio!