Planetativo

The environment brings up new words, and even if you know a lot, there is still to learn. There are new expressions resulting from scientific research and techno-ecological (there goes one!) discoveries.

Zero carbon and carbon neutral are still unknown expressions to many people and maybe you.  Zero carbon means no emissions of carbon dioxide to produce energy. A “zero carbon” home does not use electricity, gas, or any fossil fuel to operate. Nor could it have a fire fed with wood, because burning wood releases carbon dioxide, known as CO2.

A house is considered “carbon neutral” when she uses some sort of fossil fuel, but has a compensation system for carbon emissions. Some cities in Germany, for example, still use gas for cooking, but they have a wind  system  that compensates for the harmful emissions to the environment.

Some situations can cause confusion. A house can still be said carbon neutral, even if you use the wood for the barbecue. This is possible because the amount of CO2 being released by burning has been offset by the growth period of the tree. The total CO2 in the atmosphere after burning the wood is the same as before the tree had been planted. Therefore, if you cut a tree, you have to plant another one.  Otherwise, the process can not be considered “carbon neutral”.