Offsetting Carbon Emissions from Green Building Conference
Monday, 04 October 2010 |   |  0 comment

Leading sustainable media and events company Alive2green organized the Green Building Conference and Exhibition earlier this year. In order to offset the carbon emissions produced by various aspects of the conference it contacted Food and Trees for Africa (FTFA).

FTFA calculated the amount of trees needed to offset the carbon emissions produced by the Conference to be 55. Alive2green chose to have these trees planted near its office in Mowbray, Cape Town. FTFA contacted Rhodes High School in Mowbray who had applied to them for trees.

A nursery guided FTFA on what species of trees would be most suited to the environment of the school and FTFA sent the school a tree planting guide (see attachment). The school encouraged its students to participate in planting the trees around the school premises.

A ceremony was held at Rhodes High School with a Grade nine learner reciting a poem about what trees can teach people. The school then planted the trees, using the time as an opportunity to convey vital climate change information as well as talking about the importance of trees in general.

The staff and students at Rhodes High School are now able to enjoy a more aesthetically pleasing environment. A study has showed that students are able to better concentrate and retain focus when learning in a greener environment.

Alive2green would like to thank FTFA for the opportunity to offset their carbon emissions and it hopes that the staff and students at Rhodes High School will enjoy their new surroundings.