65 results about "Carbon credit" patented technology

A load management system controller employs a method for determining carbon credits earned as a result of a control event in which power is reduced to at least one service point serviced by a utility. The controller is located remotely from the service point(s) and determines power consumed over time by at least one device located at the service point(s) to produce power consumption data. The controller stores the power consumption data. At some later point in time, the controller initiates a control event and determines an amount of power reduced during the control event based on the stored power consumption data. The controller also determines a generation mix for power that would have been supplied to the service point(s) if the control event had not occurred. The controller then determines a quantity of carbon credits earned based at least on the amount of power reduced and the generation mix.

Various embodiments of methods and systems described herein relate to tracking and / or managing any combination of energy consumption, GHG emissions, carbon credits, and / or costs associated with one or more pieces of equipment, one or more sites, or an entire enterprise.

This invention relates generally to electronic commerce (e-commerce) systems and media platforms, for use with both mobile and non-mobile systems, to deploy virtual advertising and promotion via the use of electronic coupons, and more particularly a method and system for aggregating and distributing carbon reduction credits in connection with the creation and / or use of electronic coupons or virtual electronic rebates (VeeBates) and permitting individuals and groups within one or more social communications networks to participate in and transmit information to others about their activities related to the virtual advertising, incentives, redemption and promotion and aggregate carbon credits in connection therewith, either as part of the incentive or aggregation by the incentive promoter as part of its activities in reducing its carbon footprint.

Information relating to electrical energy usage for a given account is associated with a time segment that corresponds to a period when the electrical energy was received from an electrical energy distribution system. Electrical energy generation carbon impact information is retrieved for the corresponding time segment specifying when the electrical energy was received from an electrical energy distribution system. A carbon credit is calculated according to the retrieved electrical energy generation carbon impact information, and the retrieved electrical energy usage information associated with the time segment. The calculated carbon credit is then used to update a display of carbon credit related information, such as account balance, rate of carbon credit usage, currently applicable “cost” for carbon credit usage. Notifications can be provided to the consumer if any of this information crosses a threshold value. In addition, or alternatively, the carbon credit related information can be used to automatically control the operation of devices that consume electrical energy.

A carbon credit is a generic term for any tradable certificate or permit representing the right to emit one ton of carbon dioxide or the mass of another greenhouse gas with a carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) equivalent to one ton of carbon dioxide.Carbon credits and carbon markets are a component of national and international attempts to mitigate the growth in concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs). One carbon credit is equal to one ton of carbon dioxide, or in some markets, carbon dioxide equivalent gases. Carbon trading is an application of an emissions trading approach. Greenhouse gas emissions are capped and then markets are used to allocate the emissions among the group of regulated sources.Carbon credits can be generated by any process that conforms to ISO 14064-66 standards. Once generated, carbon credits can be stored in a distributed, Cloud-based ledger. The ledger entries can serve as a registry for carbon credits as well as the data source for an Internet-enabled trading system or financial exchange that allows the carbon credits to be sold and bought as part of the same system. The distributed ledger can provide records that combine the details of the carbon credits' origin, transaction history, and financial instructions associated with trading of the carbon credits via a distributed ledger system.

A computer-driven, web-based system and method that facilitates the creation and transaction of carbon credits and, more particularly, to a web-enabled software system that facilitates the analysis, calculation, preparation, documentation, data management, workflow management, trading and storage of certified emissions and energy credits or offsets (green credits).

This invention provides an environmentally-friendly system for operating a green fitness facility. It also provides for the use of a human-powered renewably energy source in a fitness facility. It further provides for the monetization of surplus power generated, carbon-credits earned through its operation method, and the promotion of an ecologically-minded fitness center.

Self-sustaining, self-contained systems and methods for producing biofuels and for producing biofuel feedstock from algae. The system is carbon neutral or may be carbon positive, fixing more carbon than it releases to the atmosphere. In various embodiments, the system may be coupled to an existing carbon dioxide producing process to reduce or completely eliminate carbon dioxide output, making the existing system carbon neutral, and providing valuable and tradable carbon credits. The system may also comprise modular tiles comprising a biomass sandwiched between two panels and use a combination of microbes, nutrients, water, and sunlight to generate biological hydrocarbon compounds that can be used in almost any type of engine.

A method and process is described for producing negative carbon fuel. In its broadest form, a carbon-containing input is converted to combustible fuels, refinery feedstock, or chemicals and a carbonaceous solid concurrently in separate and substantially uncontaminated form. In an embodiment of the invention, biomass is converted via discrete increasing temperatures under pressure to blendable combustible fuels and a carbonaceous solid. The carbonaceous solid may be reacted to synthesis gas, sold as charcoal product, carbon credits, used for carbon offsets, or sequestered.

A treatment method for wastewater employing sulfur dioxide and lime chemical dewatering technology in conjunction with an environmental photo biomass / algae biological treatment system growing photo biomass / algae to reduce dissolved solids, heavy metals, and ammonia in the wastewater to produce recovered treated wastewater for vegetation consumption, biofuel feedstock, and biofuel and carbon credits.

Compositions, methods and business applications of using new and recycled cardboard infused with a plurality of saprophytic (including endophytic) and mycorrhizal fungi matched with seeds of plants (including trees, vegetables, herbs and grasses) whereby the cardboard can be sprouted by end-users to start ecosystems. Such containers may have carbon-credit value for companies and consumers when planted and grown as a carbon sink or carbon offset for the photosynthetic and mycelial sequestration of carbon dioxide. The relative weight of the Life Box's added seeds and spores does not significantly affect the total weight of the infused cardboard, thus not increasing transportation costs.

The various embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems and methods for tracking and / or managing carbon reduction activities and the resulting carbon valuation units. Certain embodiments relate to methods or systems having at least a central processor, a database, and carbon credit calculation software configured to calculate a total number of carbon credits based on a carbon reduction activity. Other embodiments can also include identification software configured to assign a unique identification to each carbon credit or portion thereof. Various other components and embodiments are also disclosed.

Incentive allocation to a community of users based on thermostat settings is provided. The users of the community establish user rules and thermostat settings directed to a climate-controlling device. The settings and rules are communicated to a central processor for calculating an incentive amount to allocate to each user. The calculated incentive amounts are based on the thermostat settings, energy consumption, and / or carbon emissions of the user. The incentives can also be calculated based on a comparison of a thermostat setting and a subsistence level. In an example, users of a multi-user development share a total amount of carbon credits given to the entire development. The carbon credits are distributed to each user based on the thermostat settings and carbon emission of each user.

A method and process is described for producing negative carbon fuel. In its broadest form, a carbon-containing input is converted to combustible fuels, refinery feedstock, or chemicals and a carbonaceous solid concurrently in separate and substantially uncontaminated form. In an embodiment of the invention, biomass is converted via discrete increasing temperatures under pressure to blendable combustible fuels and a carbonaceous solid. The carbonaceous solid may be reacted to synthesis gas, sold as charcoal product, carbon credits, used for carbon offsets, or sequestered.

Novel tools and techniques to enhance and / or facilitate the collection, tracking, and / or verification of greenhouse gas emissions and / or savings, particularly (but not exclusively) in agricultural applications. Some tools, for example, can assist in the verification of carbon credits that may result from conservation tilling activities. Other embodiments can track greenhouse gas emissions that result from agricultural activities, including without limitation the application of pesticides, fertilizers, and / or other agricultural chemicals.

Various embodiments of methods and systems described herein relate to tracking and / or managing any combination of energy consumption, GHG emissions, carbon credits, and / or costs associated with one or more pieces of equipment, one or more sites, or an entire enterprise.

A brokering system and method for providing an incentive for use of more efficient internal combustion engines and hydrogen retrofit kits is disclosed. End users of retrofitted vehicles are provided with discounted fuel costs at authorized fueling stations. The vehicle owner's savings include: a) a reduction in fueling charges because of the vehicle's new reliance on 30% less fossil fuel (which is displaced by hydrogen in the engine), and b) by the purchase of methanol which can be set at a lower cost per calorific equivalent than a barrel of oil while also earning emission offsets to be sold for cash to the end users / creators of carbon credits. In this manner, retrofitted existing internal combustion engines linked to a trust for trading emission offsets will create a consumer-driven hydrogen economy which governments as well as the automotive and petroleum sectors will endorse. Hydrogen, which is substituted for fossil fuel in a retrofitted IC engine result in emission offsets (i.e., the quantum of emissions that are no longer there) which are converted by a regulated emissions trust into cash. This income, which is deposited into the vehicle owner's bank account via the telephone network by using a dedicated hydrogen fueling card and master engine sensor linked to a specific vehicle provided with an engine retrofit kit and an on board source of hydrogen gas. The present method provides a mapping and test kit that relies on OEM engine timing and control sensors to compare engine emissions produced by fossil fuel with emissions eliminated by substituting hydrogen. This method creates consumer demand for cleanly produced sources of hydrogen (beginning with green methanol) to fuel existing OEM engines, which will in turn, induce automobile manufacturers to build more efficient IC engines until, finally, they will all be fueled by 100% hydrogen.

Methods and associated apparatus for automatically growing agricultural crops vertically and / or in a continuous fashion throughout each year (Vertical Farm) in combination with contiguous and co-located production of biofuel, food, biomass for the purpose of carbon sequestering (carbon credits), and biomass electric power generation. A process that incorporates vast arrays of continuous-loop conveyors, towering upon vertical framework, which allow potted plants to be transported throughout all stages of maturity in a manner which substantially multiplies yield per acre, allows production to proceed in both natural and artificial light, allows production and harvesting to be automated, and allows production to proceed in conditions which are highly favorable to plants but unfavorable to humans. The entire apparatus can be constructed of lightweight, cost-effective materials which afford mass-production and mass-array into vast automatic growing operations.

Resource management using an iterative real-time auction with user rules is provided. Users of a community, such as a multi-user development, establish user rules including conditions for operating a resource-consuming device based on an incentive. A utility manager receives the user rules and integrates them with respect to an incentive value. The aggregate resource demand of the community can be estimated based on the integration of the user rules and can be compared with a desired demand. By iteratively changing the incentive value and estimating the demand with respect to the incentive value, the utility manager can control resource demand and consumption while taking into account user preferences. In other words, users of the community provide bids for a resource auction based on incentives provided by the utility manager. Resources can include electricity and incentives can include financial incentives, carbon credits, or third party offers.

The present invention is an improved method of tracking and redeeming carbon emission credits generated by a plurality of consumers which is economical and practical. The method includes the steps of providing a carbon credits database of carbon emission credits for a plurality of goods and services, said carbon credits database including a list of said goods and services and a list of the carbon emission credits associated with each of the goods and services listed. The method further includes the step of providing a customer loyalty card system to said plurality of consumers, said customer loyalty card system which includes a customer database including a plurality of customer records, each customer record including details of each customer and details of that customer's purchase of goods and services. The method further includes the step of calculating a customer carbon credits total for each customer by summing the carbon emission credits for all of the goods and services purchased by said customer. The method further includes the step of transferring ownership of all of the carbon credits accumulated by the customers' purchase of goods and services to a loyalty card operator, said loyalty card operator operating the carbon credits database and the customer loyalty card system. Lastly, the method further includes the step of providing a customer reward to each of the customers in the customer loyalty card system, said customer reward being proportional to the customer carbon credits total.

A computer implemented method and system is provided for achieving carbon neutrality. A service provider creates an emission reduction project plan for generating carbon emission reduction credits. A verification entity verifies compliance of the emission reduction project and generates a verification report. A certification entity authenticates the verification report and generates a certification report. A custodial financial institution reviews documents and title to rights and deposits carbon emission reduction credits into the service provider's carbon credit trading account based on the certification report, the verification report, and title documentation. The service provider creates carbon neutral products with unique identifiers using the carbon emission reduction credits in the pre-created carbon credit trading account. An end user can retire the assigned carbon emission reduction credits by registering their details and the details of their purchase with the service provider using the unique identifier of a purchased carbon neutral product.

Methods, including service methods, articles of manufacture, systems, articles and programmable devices are provided for linking and utilizing monetary and carbon credit accounts through a programmable arbitrating device providing a transaction interface to the buyer. A composite price is set for an item having a monetary portion and a carbon credit portion, a buyer executing a purchase of the item through an input to the arbitrating device transaction interface, the arbitrating device automatically charging a monetary payments from the buyer's monetary account, carbon credit payments from the buyer's carbon credit account, a difference between the payments and the composite price debited to the buyer's carbon credit account balance for a monetary value of the difference as a function of a monetary-carbon exchange rate, or to the buyer's monetary account for a carbon credit value of the difference as a function of the monetary-carbon exchange rate.

A carbon credit trading system, comprising a server having an input for receiving information indicating a user's carbon usage; a payment calculator module comprising a processor and memory configured for calculating and outputting a value indicating a cost of a selected portion of the user's carbon usage, an output for sending the calculated value to the user for approval; a user input for receiving approval of the calculated value or receiving further information from the user indicating an alternative selected proportion of the carbon usage that the user will pay; and a payment module for initiating billing of the user after receiving the user's approval.

Utilization of mine methane produced by mining a non-combustible ore, such as trona, as an energy source for heat, steam, and / or power generation. Such utilization is beneficial for a surface appliance which is close to surface outlet(s) of mine methane recovery system(s). A method for reducing greenhouse gas emissions generated during mining of a non-combustible ore uses the combustion of co-produced mine methane. The mine methane is recovered in a mine ventilation air exhaust with very low methane content and may be additionally recovered in a drainage gas, such as gob gas, with much higher methane content. The surface appliance may be selected from the group consisting of calciner, dryer, boiler, kiln, furnace, engine, turbine, power generation unit, co-generation unit, and any combinations thereof. Benefits may include reduction in energy purchases, reduction in greenhouse emissions, and / or gain through sale of carbon credits to the carbon market by registering carbon reductions.

Compositions, methods and business applications of using new and recycled cardboard infused with a plurality of saprophytic (including endophytic) and mycorrhizal fungi matched with seeds of plants (including trees, vegetables, herbs and grasses) whereby the cardboard can be sprouted by end-users to start ecosystems. Such containers may have carbon-credit value for companies and consumers when planted and grown as a carbon sink or carbon offset for the photosynthetic and mycelial sequestration of carbon dioxide. The relative weight of the Life Box's added seeds and spores does not significantly affect the total weight of the infused cardboard, thus not increasing transportation costs.

Information relating to electrical energy usage for a given account is associated with a time segment that corresponds to a period when the electrical energy was received from an electrical energy distribution system. Electrical energy generation carbon impact information is retrieved for the corresponding time segment specifying when the electrical energy was received from an electrical energy distribution system. A carbon credit is calculated according to the retrieved electrical energy generation carbon impact information, and the retrieved electrical energy usage information associated with the time segment. The calculated carbon credit is then used to update a display of carbon credit related information, such as account balance, rate of carbon credit usage, currently applicable “cost” for carbon credit usage. Notifications can be provided to the consumer if any of this information crosses a threshold value. In addition, or alternatively, the carbon credit related information can be used to automatically control the operation of devices that consume electrical energy.

A treatment method for wastewater employing sulfur dioxide and lime chemical dewatering technology in conjunction with an environmental photo biomass / algae biological treatment system growing photo biomass / algae to reduce dissolved solids, heavy metals, and ammonia in the wastewater to produce recovered treated wastewater for vegetation consumption, biofuel feedstock, and biofuel and carbon credits.

A carbon credit coupon system is used to provide incentives to micro refinery operators to produce ethanol and reduce the CO2 emissions by replacing gasoline with ethanol. The distribution of carbon credit coupon is based upon an accurate and quantifiable reduction in the emissions of CO2 gas based upon the difference in emissions between gasoline and ethanol. The carbon credit coupons are distributed to micro refinery operators based upon the predicted or actual ethanol produced. The carbon credit coupons can be redeemed from vendors for good used to produce ethanol, corporate sponsors or entities in need of carbon credits in order to comply with government mandates to reduce carbon emissions, etc.

A system for providing a reward to a consumer based on a travel counselor commission for a selected travel reservation booked for the consumer is disclosed. The method comprises offering a plurality of tours to a consumer; receiving a selection of one of the plurality of tours from a consumer; retrieving commission amount data related to the selected tour; and, providing the reward, to the consumer, based upon a portion of the commission amount. The system may also include purchasing carbon credits and providing a donation to a third party organization related to the selected tour, without charging the consumer for the donation.

Apparatuses, computer media, and methods for determining a value of a forest factory. A stump land value component and a biomass component of a forest factory are determined. A value of the forest factory is obtained by combining the components. The stump land value component may be normalized by a crop rotation time period. A carbon value component of a forest factory may be determined and the value of the forest factory adjusted. A land parcel may be partitioned into land partitions, in which forest parameters are associated with each land partition. A stump land value component, a biomass fuel value component, and a carbon credit value component may be determined from the land partitions. The carbon credit value component may be determined a percentage of coniferous trees, deciduous trees, and corresponding constant values of oxygen generation.