Bad Nauheim Conference – 'Beyond Carbon Neutral'
May 2011
Shining Earth™, the sustainability division of UK Inogen Associate Delta-Simons, undertook a carbon footprinting and offsetting exercise for Inogen to measure the CO2 eq emissions associated with the travel of attendees to and from the Bad Nauheim Inogen WorldView® Conference earlier this year.
The data detailing the travel details, including travel methods, vehicle type and distance was collected by Shining Earth™ following the issue of an electronic questionnaire sent to all attendees of the conference. The latest UK greenhouse gas conversion values were used to calculate the total emissions associated with the data collected. Using these values it was estimated that approximately 42.43 tonnes of CO2eq were associated with travel to and from the conference.
The results found that 79% of the calculated CO2 eq emissions were associated with emissions from flights, including domestic, short haul and long haul flights, 20.2% from road transport and less than 1% by rail.
The total calculated emissions have been 200% offset by Inogen and, as such, all attendee travel to and from the Bad Nauheim Inogen WorldView® Conference can be classified as ‘Beyond Carbon Neutral’.
The CO2eq emissions have been offset using a combination of verified emission reduction credits for international renewable energy and methane capture projects, including the construction of hydro power stations in the Guizhou province of China, and the capture of methane from the Meihe coal mine in the Jilin province of China, which will be used to generate electricity for the Northeast China Grid. Both projects have been verified to the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS). Investment was also made in ‘Woodland Carbon’- UK afforestation with The Woodland Trust. The Woodland Trust’s Woodland Carbon project involves the planting and caring for new native woodland in the UK, locking up carbon and creating valuable green spaces for people and wildlife alike.
For more information please contact Dr. Roger Griffiths at roger.griffiths@deltasimons.com