About

CO2focus is the first commercial Nordic company providing solutions on carbon footprint analysis, offsetting and green marketing services to companies, public organisations. The company was established in early spring 2007 and the offices are located in Oslo, Norway. As of July 2008,CO2focus has around 70 clients in the Nordic region.

In the course of developing new carbon management services,CO2focus has produced a set of tools known as the ACAM model. This is a carbon management service package from A to Z. This specialised processing model combined with UN certified carbon emission credits regulated under the Kyoto protocol, gives clients a tool to decarbonise their products and services.

We offer the following services:

• Carbon footprint analysis for corporations with annual update
• Carbon footprint analysis for products (life cycle assessment)
• Advisory on carbon reduction strategy and measures
• Purchase and administration of UN issued emission credits according to the Kyoto
  Protocol’s flexible mechanisms
• Advisory on PR and corporate social responsibility issues
• Arrange internal and external seminars and work shops
• Update client on relevant climate policy issues

Our carbon footprint analyses are carried out according to the renowned Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) or according to the ISO standards for life cycle assessment.

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Strategy

CO2focuswith their offices and daily operations have been carbon neutral since the very beginning, based on a 5-step carbon neutrality strategy; calculate the carbon footprint, act and reduce, compensate by emission credits, communicate and evaluate and repeat the process annually.

This decision was made due to several reasons; environmental commitment, corporate responsibility, business opportunities etc, but first of all it was important to demonstrate that we follow the same rules and make the same commitment as our clients.

EMPLOYEE COMMITMENT

Firstly, in order to reduce our own corporate carbon footprint we established the following set of rules:

Transportation

• No company cars with emissions above 140 g CO₂ per km
• All employees educated on eco-driving
• Minimize number of air flights and other transport by working digitally
• Use public transportation when possible
• Purchase of own company bicycles

Other

• All computers and copy machines turned off during night
• Other electricity used only when necessary
• Minimize print
• Drink tap water
• Green and second hand procurement policy

We have a target to reduce our carbon footprint per employee by 10% annually. Our employees are passionate and dedicated about practicing what they preach, andCO2focusencourages all employees to transfer these principles to their private activities and consumption.

CARBON FOOTPRINT

We have calculated our own carbon footprint for all operations according to the principles of The Greenhouse Gas Protocol developed by the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

The calculation focused on calendar year 2007 and covers leased office buildings, company vehicles, air travel, general waste and paper consumption. The emission sources included in the calculation are electricity for the offices, ground transportation emissions from use of company cars, air travel emissions, emissions from waste incineration and paper production. In 2007 the company emitted 17,8 metric tonnes of CO₂ equivalents – 12,2 tonnes in ground travel, 2,5 tonnes in facilities, 2,7 tonnes
in air travel and 0,3 tonnes in general waste. All paper is recycled and is therefore subtracted from the total amount.

Each employee emits an average of 2,5 tonnes of CO₂ annually.

CARBON NEUTRALITY

In order to compensate for the company’s carbon footprint we have purchased 18 Certified
Emission Reduction (CERs),tonne CO₂ equivalent,UN issued emission credits from a project carefully reviewed for environmental additionality; CDM project no 0198. The project activity involves the implementation and construction of a 66 MWe Geothermal Power Plant (GPP) in San Jacinto, Nicaragua.

The project consists in making use of geothermal energy (heat) to produce renewable electricity and replacing the use of fossil fuels. The plant is estimated to generate around 532 000 MWh per year, equivalent to the electricity consumption of approximately 25 000 Norwegian households. It should be noted that the San Jacinto-Tizate field has the potential to provide up to 100 MW of additional power, which could be expanded if the project activity proves to be successful.

Nicaragua has the lowest per capita electricity generation and consumption rate in Central America due to historically low investments in the energy sector. More  than 70 % of the Nicaraguan power system relies on thermal energy and the energy demand in Nicaragua increases by 6 % annually. The Nicaraguan government has so far relied on expensive and highly pollutant fossil fuel based sources of energy, but realizes the need of investment in the electricity sector in base load alternative generating capacity, either geothermal or hydro.

Nicaragua is a country endowed with large geothermal potential, due to the presence of volcanoes of the Marribios range along the Pacific coast. By exploiting this potential, the demand for fossil fuels is reduced. The San Jacinto project fulfils the criteria for becoming a CDM project (Clean Development Mechanism) and has thus been validated by Det Norske Veritas and approved by the UN. The project has been possible to realise thanks to the CDM validation and the following issuing of  CERcredits by the UN.

By utilising the existing geothermal resources of San Jacinto-Tizate to generate electricity, the proposed project activity will displace 66MWe (532 000 MWh) of electricity produced by a fossil-fuel intensive electricity grid, which has a carbon emission factor (CEF) of 0,754 tCO2/MWh. Expected emission reductions from the proposed project activity are approximately 360 000 tCO2 per annum, equivalent to the annual emission from more than 100 000 cars.

The project contributes to the sustainable development of Nicaragua. By providing clean electricity the project will clearly bring economic and development benefits. The implementation of the project activity is expected to improve the situation of local industries in the area, due to an improved electricity supply, contributing at the same time to reducing the costs of electricity generation. Further environmental benefits will be achieved through the reduction of air-based pollutants, such as oxides of nitrogen, sulphur oxides, carbon monoxide and fine particles, being emitted into the atmosphere due to the reduced combustion of fossil fuels.

The project is an example of successful technology transfer, which will increase the skills and expertise of Nicaraguans, specifically in developing geothermal power projects. It further leads to increased employment opportunities for locals and contributes towards employment generation in general.

The San Jacinto-Tizate geothermal project is located near the city of León, Nicaragua. León is located 90 km northwest of the capital, Managua. For further details see CDM reference:
http://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/DB/DNV-CUK1135673240.22/view

The CERs will be transferred to the Norwegian Carbon Registry for retirement as soon as the International Transaction Log is in place and in operation.

COMMUNICATION

In order to increase the environmental awareness in the society, we actively take part in national debate and seminars concerning climate change, GHG emissions and carbon footprint reduction on products and organisations. We welcome new regulations and activities that will encourage businesses to consider addressing this issue and we intend to be a front runner on this.

EVALUATE AND REPEAT

This is the company’s first carbon footprint analysis, and we recognize it is a continuous improvement process. We are committed to refining and updating our calculation every coming year and taking actions to reduce the size of our carbon footprint from our operations.

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