Global warming poses a serious threat to our environment. By choosing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, more Australians can help build a sustainable future.

Australians have one of the highest greenhouse gas emissions per capita in the world. To reduce the significant threat of global warming, more and more Australians are actively reducing their carbon footprint.

Being more energy efficient and using accredited green energy will reduce your greenhouse gas emissions. But if you'd like to go one step further and offset your home, business or travel emissions through carbon reduction programs like tree planting, energy efficiency and renewable energy schemes, Origin can help.

Offset your greenhouse gas emissions in 3 easy steps.

It's simple to calculate your environmental impact and help save our environment:

1. Visit origingreen.com.au

2. Answer a few simple questions to calculate your greenhouse gas emissions

3. Purchase offsets with your credit card, even switch to green energy

4. Display your certificate proudly and feel great about your choice to make a real difference

You can also purchase offsets on behalf of a friend and send them a personalised gift certificate.

How does being carbon neutral help?

Being carbon neutral is all about balancing the unavoidable things we do in our daily lives that create greenhouse gas emissions and impact on our environment. But on those occasions where you can't reduce your emissions for some reason, offsetting is one way to take an extra step towards a sustainable future.

What are Carbon Offsets?

Carbon offsets are a way for individuals to compensate their own greenhouse gas emissions by providing funds to contribute to emission reduction programs. These offsets, also called credits, are generated from projects and initiatives that actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

As the voluntary carbon market grows, the number of offset products available is increasing rapidly. It's important to understand that products vary in price and quality, and in the benefits they can deliver to the environment.

Some questions to consider when choosing an offset product:

• What standards are used to assess emission reduction projects that generate the offset credits and products you are buying?
• Are the emission reduction projects independently verified to ensure they are effective?
• What types of projects are involved? Do they focus on a particular activity, such as tree planting, or do they encourage a broader range of emission reduction activities, such as energy efficiency and renewable generation?
• What records-management systems are in place to ensure that credits cannot be double counted and sold more than once?
• Does the product supplier publish an independently audited report of their activity?
• Is the product rated by Green Electricity Watch?

Origin's GreenEarth Solar 100%, GreenEarth Wind 100% and GreenEarth Wind Offset 100% have received the top three placings in the 2007 Green Electricity Watch, a coalition of three of Australia's leading environmental organisations, the Australian Conservation Foundation, Total Environment Centre and WWF Australia.

The report rates 52 Government Accredited GreenPower products on how effectively they reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support growth in renewable energy. Criteria also include the clarity and accuracy of information the retailer provides about GreenPower and penalties are given for misleading practices.

Origin, Australia's number one green energy provider, has launched a Carbon Reduction Scheme^TM offering Australians an effective, efficient and flexible approach to reduce their carbon footprint.

Origin is the first Australian energy company to offer a full range of green energy and offset products and services.

Origin's offset products are independently verified, providing customers with the assurance that their offset product meets published standards, and that for every tonne purchased, a tonne of greenhouse gas emissions is actually reduced. Their commitment is to undertake projects, or to purchase commitment from others who undertake projects that offset greenhouse gas emissions, are additional to and go beyond business as usual programs.

Simply go to origingreen.com.au, to calculate your impact and offset your emissions. It's just another way to reduce your environmental footprint. Together, we can make a difference.^TM

What is global warming?

The phenomenon of global warming refers to the climate change that occurs when excess greenhouse gas emissions are released into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane act like a blanket, trapping the sun's warmth and making life on Earth possible.

Over the last century, increased industrialisation and energy consumption have led to significantly higher levels of greenhouse gas emissions being released into the atmosphere. Human actions - particularly the burning of fossil fuels (such as coal, oil and natural gas), land clearing and farming - are increasing the concentration of these gases, creating the prospect of significant global climate change. This is known as the enhanced greenhouse effect.

Australians contribute to the greenhouse effect everyday, by using energy through car travel and through the products they consume - actions that all result in greenhouse gases being added into the atmosphere.

It is widely accepted that the enhanced greenhouse effect will raise the Earth's surface temperature. Most scientists believe this will result in more extreme weather conditions. Hotter days, more severe storms, droughts and fire, and higher sea levels are expected as a result of climate change, which could lead to dramatic social, economic and environmental impacts.
To calculate your own environmental footprint and reduce your greenhouse gas emissions, visit: origingreen.com.au

^TM Trademark of Origin Energy Limited ABN 30 000 051 696