FAQ
1. Will the scheme genuinely save carbon emissions?
Yes, undeniably so. The system will issue Community Carbon Credits based initially on quantifiable and verifiable savings in electricity consumption.
2. How will schools reduce their emissions?
In a busy school environment, energy is very often wasted. Changing the habits of students and teachers can produce significant results. For example, lights can be switched off in unoccupied rooms, and the use of air cons can be better regulated. In Hong Kong, both King George V school (KGV) and St Paul’s Co-educational College have documented significant energy savings (more than 10% for KGV) after implementation of schemes to raise awareness.
3. Why don’t all schools actively promote energy saving?
Most schools have passive schemes, but incentives are usually minimal or non-existent. King George V school developed their own incentive scheme, at a school level, that has produced excellent results. Our Cap and Trade system adds very powerful incentives for a school to perform better by provision of finance and outside interest.
4. Has a similar Cap and Trade system been implemented elsewhere?
Not exactly. The UK government introduced the first mandatory scheme in the world in April 2010 (a few months after we had started), but their system has many differences.
5. What happens to funds paid to schools because of their emission savings?
Participating schools agree that the money they receive must enter a School Environment Fund solely reserved for programmes, activities and education focused on increasing environmental awareness in that school. The schools will be asked to match the money they receive from carbon credits with the same amount derived from savings that the school makes from its reduced energy bills. We will work with schools to help identify appropriate projects and activities to fund. Some examples might be more detailed carbon audits, installation of renewable energy systems, implementation of more energy-efficient technology, environmental education field trips, promotion of gardening and composting etc.
6. How can I support the project as a parent or member of the community?
If you genuinely believe that schools must educate our children to act to avoid climate change, then you can consider offsetting your flights or emissions from energy use by purchasing Community Carbon Offsets from us. This not only reduces emissions, but also raises the awareness in schools.
7. How are the credits generated and accounted for?
Each year the genuine energy savings of each school, within an agreed protocol, are calculated and converted into tonnes of carbon dioxide. Each tonne of CO2 saved generates one Community Carbon Offset, and these are sold to the third parties (see here for examples). Funds raised from the sale of the offsets will be used to pay schools.
8. How is the cap set for a school?
The starting place for negotiations about the cap for a school is their current consumption. A meeting will then be held with your school to agree the final cap value, taking into account all relevant information, such as students numbers, new buildings etc.
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