Aspen ZGreenCANARY TAGS
With funds from the sale of Canary Tags, the City of Aspen will invest in local, state and regional carbon offset projects that would not otherwise be possible and will help reduce greenhouse gases on your behalf.
MANUAL CALCULATOR

I want to offset tons of greenhouse gases at $20.00 a ton.
OR
I want to donate* $ to invest in local renewable energy and energy efficiency programs.


* - When you make a donation your money goes into renewable energy and energy efficiency projects here in the Roaring Fork Valley. These investments actively work to lessen our environmental impact and improve the lives of residents, but do not meet the verification required to be part of our carbon offset portfolio.
 
BUY CANARY TAGS
 

What are Canary Tags (carbon offsets)?

Canary Tags represent an investment in a carbon offset. Carbon Offsets are investments in projects that either:
  • avoid releasing greenhouse gases because they are powered with renewable energy (like solar, wind, hydro power or biofuels)
  • avoid releasing greenhouse gases because they use less energy (like energy efficiency improvements to homes and buildings)
  • absorb greenhouse gases after they are emitted (like capturing methane from coal mines)
One tag is equivalent to displacing one ton of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and therefore works to limit the pollution that is causing global warming. To be qualified as a sound investment and something that really makes a difference in reducing global warming, a carbon offset must meet the following criteria:
  • Additional - it must be something new that wouldn't have happened without financial investment from the sale of carbon offsets.
  • Verifiable - the greenhouse gas savings must be able to be calculated and checked by a reputable organization to make sure it really is saving carbon.
 
Additional Resources
linkWhat Aspen is Already Doing (link: web site)
linkWhat you can do everyday (link: web site)
linkAspen Environmental Health Department (link: web site)
linkZGreen Newsletter (link: web site)
linkGlobal Warming (link: web site)
linkFacts and Figures (link: web site)
linkAspen's Future (link: PDF document)