If you don’t have much of a real life, consider offsetting your virtual one: starting this week some 20 million registered users participating in the multi-player game Second Life (SL), now have a chance to offset their carbon emissions produced during play.
Linden Labs, creators of the game, recently partnered with 4Offsets and Jorel Ventures, a Second Life property developer. The triad have created a store in Second Life where you and your avatars can learn about offsetting, and purchase offset credits to balance the greenhouse gases created while online.
“These offsets are being offered to SL residents and land owners so that they may offset the greenhouse gases and pollution that are created in maintaining their virtual world,” said Jorel Rau, from Jorel Ventures.
What does the US-based 4Offsets say about the development? “Our goal at 4Offsets is to get the average citizen involved in the fight against global warming and supply them with offsets,” said Fred Weiss, 4Offsets’ CEO.
He continues, “Second Life is a great place for 4Offsets, because not only can discuss we Global Warming, we can actually allow participants to offset the CO2 emitted from their virtual footprint.”
4Offsets lets you offset your real life, as well, through its online service. However, limited information about what projects the company supports, would make a consumer want to check the company more thoroughly before making a purchase.
They say that they work with commodity contracts to offset their communities/clients CO2 releases. For about $10, 4Offsets says it will offset a ton of carbon dioxide emissions. So far, the organization founded in 2007 claims to have offset 1,000 tons.
Inquiring minds who spend time in Second Life should ask 4Offsets some nuts and bolts questions about its specific projects, and how much of the offset money they collect goes to the actual projects.
To participate and start asking those questions, visit The Second Life Carbon Offset Exchange (SLCOE), based in the Vio sim.
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:: 4Offsets press release