Carbon offsets that cancel
coal.
Counter your life's emissions by directly preventing emissions from coal and natural gas
powerplants.
Buy offsets starting at just $6
People from 100+ cities have joined the cause
23% fewer emissions from powerplants driven by our offsets
(backed by peer reviewed
data)
Our offsets are 2x faster than other offsets and directly limit emissions from the U.S.'s biggest source
of emissions (powerplants). All while building renewable energy and lowering people's power bills.
How our offsets work
1. Kotoo and power plants buy pollution "permits" issued by states to cap the amount of pollution until there
are no more left. The more permits Kotoo buys, the
less power plants can use to pollute.
2. Power plants that couldn’t get enough permits make emissions reducing upgrades to continue producing electricity or risk losing money.
3. Governments spend the money from the permits building renewable energy and replacing inefficient buildings so less energy is needed.
Since power plants reduce and governments spend the money building renewable energy your money goes twice as far. It's 2x as good as building renewable energy directly, maximizing your impact at no extra cost.
2. Power plants that couldn’t get enough permits make emissions reducing upgrades to continue producing electricity or risk losing money.
3. Governments spend the money from the permits building renewable energy and replacing inefficient buildings so less energy is needed.
Since power plants reduce and governments spend the money building renewable energy your money goes twice as far. It's 2x as good as building renewable energy directly, maximizing your impact at no extra cost.
FAQ
Everyone has a carbon footprint, however large or small, and buying offsets doesn’t change that
fact.
Rather, carbon offsets work by reducing emissions from other sources to create extra space for
individuals’ emissions. This helps balance the scales to keep total total CO2 emissions at or
under
a
safe limit. If the U.S. had 100% renewable energy, then everyone's footprint would be 60% lower
which is
why we work to accelerate the transition.
To keep global temperature changes below two degrees — the target for major climate change
policies
—
individuals need to limit their carbon emissions to about 2 tons of CO2 per year.
But reducing CO2 emissions from 16 tons (the average American footprint) down to 2 isn’t realistic for many people.
Some of the biggest ways to reduce your carbon footprint, like eating vegan, buying sustainably-made clothes, or switching to an electric car, can be cost-prohibitive.
That’s where offsets come in.
By limiting carbon from mega-emitters like power plants, we make total emission caps a little more forgiving for individuals living in a system that makes it tough to go carbon-neutral.
But reducing CO2 emissions from 16 tons (the average American footprint) down to 2 isn’t realistic for many people.
Some of the biggest ways to reduce your carbon footprint, like eating vegan, buying sustainably-made clothes, or switching to an electric car, can be cost-prohibitive.
That’s where offsets come in.
By limiting carbon from mega-emitters like power plants, we make total emission caps a little more forgiving for individuals living in a system that makes it tough to go carbon-neutral.
There’s a wide range of carbon offsets available to consumers. Not all of them are equally
effective.
We choose to purchase emission permits because they’re government-regulated and enforceable.
In other words, there are no empty promises.
It’s hard to verify that a tree has been planted — or that it won’t be cut down within a few years.
But when it comes to pollution permits and regulating emissions, power plants are held accountable by state governments. So you don’t have to take our word for it.
We choose to purchase emission permits because they’re government-regulated and enforceable.
In other words, there are no empty promises.
It’s hard to verify that a tree has been planted — or that it won’t be cut down within a few years.
But when it comes to pollution permits and regulating emissions, power plants are held accountable by state governments. So you don’t have to take our word for it.
Kotoo is the first direct-to-consumer company to buy government-regulated emission permits. This
is
a
proven method for CO2 reduction that has a significant, immediate impact.
By raising the price of emission permits, we pressure power plants to replace “dirty” production processes with greener, cleaner technology to remain profitable.
This cuts off emissions at the source. It’s a lot simpler — and a lot more effective — than trying to remove carbon after it’s already been emitted.
By raising the price of emission permits, we pressure power plants to replace “dirty” production processes with greener, cleaner technology to remain profitable.
This cuts off emissions at the source. It’s a lot simpler — and a lot more effective — than trying to remove carbon after it’s already been emitted.
In addition to making powerplants pay for the damage they're doing, the permits fund solutions
to mitigate that damage. Permits fund the following 6 items:
Powerplant emissions reductions
When emissions are expensive, power plants invest in upgrades that avoid emissions.
Just
like how you would buy more efficient light bulbs if electricity became super
expensive.
57% of your funds are spent towards retiring permits to force powerplant upgrades.
Energy efficiency programs
Governments help people and businesses reduce their emissions by subsidizing energy
efficient technology. An example of
this would be rebates for replacing single pane windows with double pane windows
reducing
overall energy consumption. Since energy produces emissions, this in turn reduces
carbon
dioxide emissions and lowers people's bills.
Renewable energy construction
Building renewable energy such as solar panels and wind turbines means less fuel
needs
to be
burned for electricity. 11% of the funds go towards this class of project.
Landfill gas capture
When organic matter decomposes without oxygen (i.e. when it's buried in a
landfill),
it
produces methane - a very potent greenhouse gas. You can prevent this by
composting
or
putting waste food down the drain but for
the things we've already thrown away, we can install systems to capture this
outgassing
from
landfills to prevent it from warming the planet.
Low income energy bill assistance
About a third of U.S. households can't afford their energy bills - these funds go
towards
helping these people out. In the long run, renewable energy has the potential to be
cheaper than our current solution, but it costs money to build it and that might
raise
prices slightly in the short term. But the results of climate change will create
much
more
hardship for the poorest households so we can't wait for perfect cost parity.
Administration fees
Operating the permit system costs some money but at 3%, it's much cheaper fee
than
any
other
offset program which typically cost 20-30% of the total for project execution.
This
permit
system is largely so cheap because it leverages existing data on fuel sales
collected
for
economic forecasts for verification.
“Carbon pricing” — the practice of limiting and selling pollution permits — is proven to
have a
substantial impact on carbon emissions.
A peer-reviewed study of carbon pricing found that over the last
10
years,
states with a permitting system have seen a 23% reduction in emissions from coal and
natural
gas
compared to those without. Similar programs in the EU, Canada, New Zealand, and Korea,
have
cut
greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 11%.
According to endcoal.org, 57% of all coal plants have been closed in the states where our permits are effective compared to all other states with 31% closed. That's over 4882 coal power plants closed before Kotoo started removing permits from the market. But there are still 43% remaining so there’s a ways to go. And the coal plants were largely replaced with natural gas power plants so we need to do it again with renewable energy.
Since power plants make up about 44% of the U.S.A's emissions, this is one of the most cost-efficient and impactful ways that we as individuals can curb CO2 emissions on an industrial scale.
According to endcoal.org, 57% of all coal plants have been closed in the states where our permits are effective compared to all other states with 31% closed. That's over 4882 coal power plants closed before Kotoo started removing permits from the market. But there are still 43% remaining so there’s a ways to go. And the coal plants were largely replaced with natural gas power plants so we need to do it again with renewable energy.
Since power plants make up about 44% of the U.S.A's emissions, this is one of the most cost-efficient and impactful ways that we as individuals can curb CO2 emissions on an industrial scale.
Yes! We absolutely believe in promoting and funding renewable energy sources. In fact, 11%
of
your
monthly Kotoo subscription goes toward building renewable energy infrastructure.
But that’s the long game. We also need to make big changes to our current power infrastructure if we want to slow climate change in any significant way.
That’s why we’re helping state governments to push for carbon-efficient updates to existing power plants.
For example, a natural gas power plant emits 50% less than a coal one. So we could see a big reduction in CO2 by forcing coal-powered plants to transition to natural gas. Companies are more likely to make these step-changes than to switch to renewable energy right off the bat.
It might not sound as ideal as building windmills. But it’s an important step in the right direction. The less CO2 we emit right now, the more time we buy ourselves to build renewable energy sources and work toward a more sustainable future for everyone.
But that’s the long game. We also need to make big changes to our current power infrastructure if we want to slow climate change in any significant way.
That’s why we’re helping state governments to push for carbon-efficient updates to existing power plants.
For example, a natural gas power plant emits 50% less than a coal one. So we could see a big reduction in CO2 by forcing coal-powered plants to transition to natural gas. Companies are more likely to make these step-changes than to switch to renewable energy right off the bat.
It might not sound as ideal as building windmills. But it’s an important step in the right direction. The less CO2 we emit right now, the more time we buy ourselves to build renewable energy sources and work toward a more sustainable future for everyone.
A small group of states in the Northeast of the U.S. Carbon pricing is not widely used to
regulate
emissions and not all carbon pricing systems used to regulate emissions are open to third
parties
like
Kotoo.
So for the time being, our CO2 reduction efforts are concentrated in these states:
We currently buy emission permits in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,
New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
However, we encourage you to participate in Kotoo’s offset program from anywhere.
With many carbon offset programs located on other continents — often in South America and Africa — Kotoo’s offsets bring climate solutions close to home.
So for the time being, our CO2 reduction efforts are concentrated in these states:
We currently buy emission permits in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,
New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. However, we encourage you to participate in Kotoo’s offset program from anywhere.
With many carbon offset programs located on other continents — often in South America and Africa — Kotoo’s offsets bring climate solutions close to home.
The average American emits about 16 tons of carbon per year.
You can find an estimate of your carbon footprint with our free calculator. Or you can track your exact carbon footprint from the past year with our unique, automated carbon footprint calculator included with all Kotoo subscriptions.
You can find an estimate of your carbon footprint with our free calculator. Or you can track your exact carbon footprint from the past year with our unique, automated carbon footprint calculator included with all Kotoo subscriptions.
Kotoo is the most effective way to reduce emissions . . .
. . . because most of your emissions can be traced to powerplants
See for yourself with our manual simulator
Shut down coal power plants, for good
"Definitely the most cost-effective way to reduce my carbon footprint." - Austin
"I finally have hope for the climate." - Rose
"Sustainability on autopilot." - Barrett
"Finally the potential to shape behavior on a wide scale" - RJ
We've all grown accostomed to a certain way of life and now we've come to realize that
lifestyle
is incompatible with a healthy planet.
As a result, it's easy to feel helpless on climate change. An electric car isn't feasible for
everyone, it's too easy for companies to market their way through sustainability, and individual
action is dwarfed by the current fossil fuel system that makes individual effort meaningless.
That's why we built Kotoo - to give individuals like you the power to change the system.
Kotoo is the fastest, easiest, most impactful, and most cost-effective environmental action you
can
take. By attacking the source of the majority of U.S. emissions, you can rest easy knowing
you're
pushing the world to a better future. I'd love for you to give it a try.
Evan Maynard
CEO & Founder of Kotoo
Purchase offsets to limit pollution now
