Conference & Expo Carbon Offsets

AASHE 2008 and the Sustainable Solutions Expo Carbon Offsets

AASHE is taking every opportunity to align this conference with its sustainability values. In addition to hosting AASHE 2008 in the LEED-registered Raleigh Convention Center, incorporating a wide variety of waste minimization and diversion policies and energy efficiency strategies to minimize the conference's negative impact on the environment and society (see Greening AASHE 2008), AASHE is also offsetting the conference and expo.

AASHE 2008 and the Sustainable Solutions Expo Carbon Offsets

Through e-BlueHorizons' generous Climate Sponsorship of the conference and expo, AASHE is offsetting all aspects of the event's footprint except for exhibitor travel. The carbon offsets to be retired on behalf of the conference result from the capture, destruction and/or beneficial use of landfill methane - a potent greenhouse gas at two projects in New England owned and operated by direct corporate affiliates of e-BlueHorizons. The projects are: Greater New Bedford Landfill Gas Utilization Project, and the North Country Landfill Gas Utilization Project. Each project meets the rigorous criteria of the Environmental Defense Fund's Carbon Offset List and other major accrediting organizations.

Carbon Offsets

• AASHE's Travel & Accommodations
• Seven-Star's Travel & Accommodations
• Freight Travel for Exhibits and Program Needs
• Convention Center Energy Consumption
• Waste
• Attendee Travel (estimated in advance at 1,400 attendees flying an average of 1,000 miles, and accounts for those driving not flying)
• Attendee Lodging (estimated in advance at 1,400 attendees spending an average of three nights in a hotel)

AASHE is also encouraging all exhibitors and sponsors with exhibit booths to individually calculate and offset their participation in the Sustainable Solutions Expo.