The following types of project are the most common investments for carbon offsets:

• Renewable / Alternative Power Generation - includes solar, wind, geo & hydro
  
• Alternative Fuels - includes biomass (wood, or methane generation), biofuels
  
• Fuel Efficiency projects - burning a particular fuel more efficiently, or CHP (combined heat and power) projects
  
• Energy Efficiency Projects - eg Low energy lightbulbs, insulation, eco building projects
  
• Reforestation - Plant trees which absorb carbon dioxide
  
• Industrial Methane - Burn methane generated by landfill sites
  
• Transportation - Subsidize or encourage the use of public transport, car sharing schemes, bicycles

Before purchasing carbon offsets you need to ask yourself a couple of questions. First, have you already done everything you can to reduce your own emissions directly? If you can theoretically go carbon neutral by spending a few pounds online, thereby allowing you to stop thinking about your own lifestyle, then buying offsets may prove counter-productive. For example, Calor Gas will now sell you offsets to prevent you feeling guilty about using your patio heater - one of the most unnecessary sources of carbon yet invented!

Secondly, remember this market is largely unregulated and choose your offsets carefully. The popular choice of tree planting projects can for example be problematic for various reasons including a lack of permanence and the failure to address our dependence on fossil fuels. Look at the offset projects your money will be invested in and ask the following questions:

• Do the offsets result from specific projects?
  
• Is there an objective standard to ensure the additionality and quality of the offsets?
  
• Additionality - are you sure that the projects would not have happened without the greenhouse gas offset market?
  
• Have the offsets been validated against a third-party standard by a credible source?
  
• Are you sure that the offsets are not sold to multiple buyers?
  
• Is the vendor involved in educating their buyers about climate change and the need for climate change policy?

Before deciding where to buy your carbon offsets look at as many projects and providers as possible and consider the above points. You can find a listing of the major UK providers HERE.

Remember, as well as buying offsets you can choose to make your purchases from carbon neutral companies. A carbon neutral company is one that has minimised its emissions then offset the remainder - but check their credentials carefully as carbon neutrality is becoming a bit of a buzz phrase. By buying from genuinely carbon neutral companies you ensure that there is no carbon cost for the goods and services you are purchasing. For a directory of businesses claiming to be carbon neutral see HERE.