Offsetting Emissions: How Innovative Companies Are Responding To the Challenge of Climate Change

Computers, photocopiers, appliances, lights, heating, and air conditioning; there is no mystery as to why businesses are a significant source of green house gas emissions. Many organizations, like Klondike Contracting, are responding to the challenge of climate change by making office environments, practices and behaviors more eco-friendly.

Here at Klondike, we are nearing the completion of our Interior Renovation LEED Certification of our new Hemlock Station Office. This renovation has largely reduced the green house gas emissions emitted from the mechanical, electrical and electronic systems found in most work environments. After completing the structural change we came to realize changing the office environment was only half the battle, office practices and behavior would have to reinforce the physical changes made around the work-place to optimize our carbon-emission-reduction capabilities.

In aims of fulfilling our potential, we have committed ourselves to integrating green practices into our day-today office lives. The use of LED lighting, setting off-peak timers for heating and cooling and reducing paper-use by turning to integrated software systems, are just a few steps that we have taken to combat the challenge of climate change. These changes around the office have led to significant improvements in operational efficiencies and have reduced our internal energy use to its fullest extent.

We have been able to offset that small percentage of remaining emissions by purchasing carbon credits through Bullfrog Power’s carbon emissions reduction program. Essentially, you purchase carbon credits to offset the remaining energy use that your company is unable to offset. The small premium you pay goes towards the creation of clean energy development and production. Bullfrog Power is Canada’s 100% green electricity provider that offers clean / renewable electricity to its users. With Bullfrog Power, you continue to draw electricity from the regional grid, just as you always have and Bullfrog’s generators inject renewable electricity onto the grid to match the amount of power your business was unable to offset. In principle you are replacing the non-renewable energy your company has used with energy that comes from renewable sources like wind and water. Klondike will keep you posted on the latest eco-technology for your home or project.