Energy Saving Questions and FAQ's

Zero Gas is powered by The CIKEL Project and works to avoid CO2 emissions by avoiding planned deforestation. The CIKEL Project helps reduce 9.4 million tons of CO2 emissions that would have been emitted into the atmosphere over the next 10 years.

The CIKEL Project was the first REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) project within the Verified Carbon Standard framework in the Amazon.

Generally, RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates) are tradable, contractual instruments that represent the full suite of attributes of 1 Megawatt-hour of renewable energy generation on the electricity grid. RECs are the sole means to claim usage of grid-connected renewable electricity in the United States, and the compliance instrument for consumption- or delivery-based state Renewable Portfolio Standards. Renewable electricity generation and use are tracked through RECs, and so by matching RECs with your electricity service you are using renewable electricity. A REC represents the environmental benefits of 1 megawatt-hour of renewable electricity that can be paired with electricity For more information on RECs please see this video.

* Disclaimer: Please note that the above information regarding RECs is not state specific. Each state has its own REC requirements. The REC programs utilized by Kiwi Energy to match energy consumption and offset gas consumption go above and beyond those legal requirements in each individual state.

A carbon offset is a reduction of greenhouse gasses measured in tons of carbon dioxide or methane avoided, sequestered or destroyed. Projects such as avoiding deforestation, planting of trees, methane management (such as cow ‘gas’), and management of landfill waste gases are the types of projects that aim to reduce the amount of carbon released into our atmosphere and have a ‘credit’ value.

Renewable energy is energy derived from natural resources that replenish themselves over a period of time without depleting the Earth’s resources. These resources also have the benefit of being abundant, available in some capacity nearly everywhere, and they cause little, if any, environmental damage. Energy from the sun, wind, and thermal energy stored in the Earth’s crust are examples. For comparison, fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas are not renewable, since their quantity is finite—once we have extracted them they will cease to be available for use as an economically viable energy source. While they are produced through natural processes, these processes are too slow to replenish the fuels as quickly as humans use them, so sources will run out sooner or later.