Carbon Offset Program

What is the Carbon Offset Program?

Each of us through our daily activities such as driving, cooking our food or heating or cooling our homes, produces carbon dioxide (CO₂) also known as our carbon footprint. But you can help offset these emissions by purchasing carbon offsets through Duke Energy. All contributions support programs and technologies that reduce or prevent carbon or greenhouse gas emissions.

How Big is My Carbon Footprint?

You can use our handy calculator and learn for yourself exactly how to balance your carbon equation.

How Does the Carbon Offset Program Work?

You can purchase carbon offsets to support programs that reduce or prevent the release of CO₂ emissions. Duke Energy will purchase carbon credits which support certified carbon offset projects.

A carbon offset may be purchased for $4 per month, which will offset 500 pounds of CO₂ – the equivalent of 250 kilowatt hours of energy use based on Duke Energy’s generation mix.
The average residential customer uses 1,000 kilowatt hours of energy per month.
By purchasing four carbon offsets each month for $16, you can balance your home’s carbon output.
You may also elect to purchase additional offsets to help compensate for the emissions from driving, flying, or other activities you participate in.

Duke Energy will match your contribution.

At Duke Energy, we believe in partnering with our customers to reduce carbon emissions and protect our world for future generations. For the first $4 carbon offset each customer buys, we will match your contribution through 2009.

Going green isn’t black and white.
The Carbon Offset Program can help you reduce your carbon footprint. However, there are several actions you can take today to move toward a greener, more environmentally friendly lifestyle. At Duke Energy, we think of it as a threefold approach:

1. Energy Efficiency
Americans are cutting down energy consumption and creating more energy efficient homes by replacing traditional light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), installing energy-saving appliances, and reducing electricity use during peak hours.

Duke Energy offers online energy-saving tips and tools to help you analyze your energy usage and find ways to conserve. Being efficient doesn’t stop with energy. Learn more about how you can make your overall lifestyle more efficient.

2. Cleaner, greener technologies
Cleaner technologies and renewable energy sources including solar, wind, biomass and water are providing new opportunities for reducing emissions and our dependence on foreign oil. These low-to-zero emission technologies will play an increasingly larger role in meeting the nation’s future energy demand.

Duke Energy makes it easy for our customers to support renewabe energy. Learn more about what Duke Energy is doing to bring additional renewable energy to the market.

3. Offset the rest.
When energy conservation alone isn’t enough, there’s the Carbon Offset Program.

Purchase carbon offsets now through the Carbon Offset Program.

I would like more information about the Carbon Offset Program.

Get details on the carbon offset criteria established by the Environmental Defense Fund.

At Duke Energy, we’re committed to reducing our own carbon footprint. Our aspiration is to cut our carbon emissions in half by 2030.