General
What is MyEmissionsExchange.com?
MyEmissionsExchange.com or MyEex (pronounced "my-eeks") is a free website that lets you earn money for lowering your carbon footprint. MyEex.com tackles the increasingly important issue of global climate by financially rewarding individuals for reducing their carbon emissions. MyEex.com helps members measure their carbon footprint and offers tips, blogs, and videos on how to easily reduce. MyEex.com then certifies these reductions and trades these credits on the international carbon market. Lastly, MyEex deposits the proceeds of the sale right into the users Pay Pal account.
Why should I Sign Up?
Until now, the market for carbon credits has been active on a business-to-business level. There were no measurement systems, certification standards, or bundling in place for individual carbon credits. At MyEmissionsExchange.com, we allow individuals to tap into this new and rapidly developing market. MyEmissionsExchange measures, certifies, and bundles individual carbon credits. Whether you are currently taking measures to reduce your carbon footprint or not, MyEex offers an informative and entertaining way to "Be green and Earn green."
What does this cost me?
Absolutely nothing! MyEex is 100% free. There isn’t even a penalty if you can’t reduce!
How much can I expect to earn?
Credits are sold on the Voluntary Carbon Market, so the price for VERs (Voluntary Emissions Reductions) will fluctuate as in any market. You can expect to earn between $10 and $25 for your VER. Credits in April 2009, for example, sold for about $18 per ton.
How do I "earn green?"
You earn in 2 ways:
- On the savings from lower utility bill costs.
- On the sale of your Personal Carbon Credits.
What should I do to get started?
- Provide your e-mail address through Sign Up.
- Begin exploring the information exchange. Browse videos, calculate your footprint, read up on environmental news, contribute to blogs, and check out reduction tips.
- Check out the Videos: Browse through the MyEex vault, enter the Video Contest.
Who started MyEmissionsExchange? How is it funded?
MyEmissionsExchange was launched in March 2009 as an information exchange aimed at lowering carbon footprints, and since has expanded to a world-wide personal carbon exchange. MyEmissionsExchange is partnered with OceanConnect ltd, an international company that specializes in the brokerage of energy resources. OceanConnect provides the technical support and infrastructure for trading and bundling the individual carbon credits accumulated by MyEmissionsExchange.
Is MyEex For-Profit?
Yes. MyEex makes a commission on the brokerage of your carbon credits. The amount of green we “earn” is contingent on how green we can motivate our users to be!
Is MyEex an "Environmental" group?
MyEex has no political leanings, and we don't consider ourselves an "environmental group." We think that there are MANY valiant efforts to "save our planet" by some very effective organizations that tackle the problem from humanitarian and political perspectives. We'll leave that work up to them. Our goal is to reach a broad audience of individuals, and motivate them to reduce emissions in their home and save money in their wallet
Carbon Market
What is a carbon credit? What is my “carbon footprint?”
Your life is powered by energy. Your home produces carbon emissions from this energy use. That energy use, when measured, is sometimes called your “carbon footprint” (not too complicated, huh?) When your energy use is reduced, so is your carbon footprint. When you reduce your carbon emissions enough, you create a credit.
For example, Mrs. Jones (theoretically) has a carbon footprint of 24 tons. Ms. Jones is extremely conscious of her energy usage and implements reductions to lower her carbon footprint. Using simple MyEmissionsExchange reduction tips, Mrs. Jones reduces her carbon footprint by 4,408lbs (2 tons) and saves $368 on her utility bill. Amazing! but that’s not all. Mrs. Jones savings generated 2 carbon credits. These credits were sold by MyEmissionsExchange, and 36 dollars (her portion of the proceeds from the carbon credits) were deposited into Mrs. Jones PayPal account! If Mrs. Jones keeps her smaller carbon footprint, she’ll earn 2 carbon credits every year!
What is cap & trade and how can it reduce emissions? Where does MyEmissionsExchange fit in?
A "cap and trade" system begins by establishing a limit or "cap" on the amount of carbon dioxide (CARBON) an individual or company can emit, although it is often designed to target specific industries. Companies that come out under their caps can sell their allowances to those over the cap. Those over the cap can also purchase from other companies – or credits from projects. MyEex will act as a project generating credits for auction on an open "carbon market." Companies or groups who exceed the limits will be required to purchase credits in order to "offset" their excessive emissions.
Registration
What do I need to sign up?
All you need is an e-mail address and a utility bill. Go to MyEex.com, click sign-up and you’re ready to go!
Who can sign up?
ANYONE and EVERYONE can sign up from ANYWHERE in the world. All you need to have is an e-mail address and a home utility bill, since savings are linked only to the owner of the utility account. We'll take care of the rest!
Note: International users will only be able to receive estimates due to limited weather data at this time; however, MyEex is currently collecting the needed weather data so your reductions will be recorded and calculated. International users currently reducing will be reimbursed when this data becomes available.
Data Entry
What do I need to enter data?
All you need is a copy of your utility bill. The most important part of your utility bill is the historical data or previous usage charts. In order to get started with MyEex, you need to enter your household’s electric/heat usage for the past 12 months.
How do I enter my Home Utility information?
After you have registered and received your confirming e-mail, login and you will be prompted to enter your consumption history. There are four steps to follow and they are: 1) confirm the source of heat in your residence, 2) select how your consumption is measured – a total for the month or a daily average 3) select how often you are billed – every month or every 2 months (only applies to natural gas and electricity) and 4) enter your data. If you need additional help click on the Help icon in the upper right. When your data is complete, select Commit and your carbon footprint will be calculated. If you want to edit your history later, select Save.
What if I lost my bill from last month?
Contact your energy provider and request a new copy. Many companies additionally offer the ability to review your previous bills online.
What should I do with my bill when I am done?
We recommend that you upload your bill by selecting My Files/Add Files. This information will be needed later to certify your credits. If you prefer save a copy of your bill for future verification.
How do I Read my Utility Bill (Gas & Electric)?
Below are two examples of how to interpret necessary information from of your utility bill. Your historical data (Previous 12 month usage) is generally displayed in two forms. As seen with the Duke Energy sample bill, the data is simply put in a chart that is a replica of the MyEmissionsExchange model. On The Duke Energy site, number 28, “Gas and Electric Usage Chart,” clearly illustrates this model. If your utility bill is in a similar format, all you need to do is type this information in as your baseline data on MyEmissionsExchange.com.
As seen in the Con Edison sample, the 12-month electric/gas usage is displayed as a daily average for those months (seen on second page graph). You can enter this data directly by selecting Daily instead of Monthly in Step 2.
Duke Energy Sample Bill:
http://www.duke-energy.com/kentucky/billing/read-bill.aspCon Edison Sample Bill:
http://www.coned.com/customercentral/threebill_D19_ResDual.asp#energygraphelecNote: some bills may have their consumption data in a graph, you can use a ruler or straightedge to help read the values from the graph.
How do I Read my Utility Bill (Propane & Heating Oil)?
As for Propane and Heating Oil bills, the 12-month usage data is generally not organized like the electric and gas usage charts, as propane and oil tanks are filled on an as needed basis, not periodically. Individuals can still use MyEex by entering the information on their delivery receipts or their bills. These delivery receipts, which are left by oil and propane companies after refilling your tank, can be used to determine a baseline number.
I don’t get deliveries every month, what should I do?
Don’t panic, most people that use propane or heating oil don’t receive periodic deliveries. Enter all deliveries you have received in the last 12 months, in the month that they occurred, and enter zeros in the months that had no deliveries.
For more specific Utility Bill related inquiries, contact
info@myemissionsexchange.com.
Calculations
How do you calculate my “baseline?”
MyEmissionsExchange uses your previous 12-month utility bills, taking into account seasonal variation, to calculate your baseline.
What assumptions do you make in calculating Home emissions?
Electric CO2 Emissions in Pounds = MWH X Emissions factor from Table
Natural Gas Emissions in Pounds = CF X 0.12 lbs CO2 / CF of N.G.
Heating Oil Emissions in Pounds = Gal X 22.15 lbs CO2 / Gal of Oil
Propane Emissions in Pounds = Gal X 12.70 lbs CO2 / Gal of Propane
Electric emissions factors from Energy Information Administration Table eGrid2006
Other factors from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
How do you account for seasonal variation?
MyEex compares the most recent month’s results to the same calendar month one year earlier to remove seasonal changes.
What are degree days?
Degree days are a way to factor out weather variability. Some winters are colder than others, some summers are hotter than others. Degree days factors out these potential differences so that your reduction behavior can accurately be measured over time.
How do you calculate degree days?
To calculate the heating degree days for a particular day, take the day’s average temperature. If the number is above 65, there are no heating degree days that day. If the number is less than 65, subtract it from 65 to find the number of heating days. For example, if the day's high temperature is 60 and the low is 40, the average temperature is 50 degrees. 65 minus 50 is 15 heating degree days. To calculate cooling degree days, apply the same process but subtract 65 from the day's average temperature.
Security and Privacy
What about Privacy? Is my information secure?
MyEmissionsExchange uses SSL certificates through a company called Comodo. When you access a website, packets (or sockets) are transferred between you and that site. SSL (security socket layer) prevents information that we send and receive from being intercepted by sniffers (tools that allow viewing of network traffic). For further questions on the privacy of your data on our end, please click
here.
Verification
What do I need to do to verify my reductions?
Once you have reduced your footprint by enough to receive one credit (2204lbs=1 ton=1 Carbon Credit= 1 VER), there is one simple step to certify your reductions. Just scan and upload your actual utility bill from your profile page. Don’t worry, you will receive an e-mail prompt from the Administrator to do so when you have reduced enough.
Things to keep in mind:
- The address on your utility bill must be identical to the address given in your registration info—street, city, and zip
- Calculations and conversions are correct.
- You have at least 12 months of history inputted.
How are my credits certified?
Once a carbon credit has been awarded, it must be certified. Certification assures that the credit is both real and meets a specific group of requirements. These requirements are part of a fairly complex international set of standards that until now were beyond the scope of individuals. Don’t worry! We’ll take care of all certification on our end. You simply measure, reduce and earn.
Who certifies my credits?
The unique benefit of MyEex.com is that we will take care of the verification, certification and sales process for you, and then deposit the money directly into your PayPal account. All you have to worry about is reducing your energy consumption. We'll take care of the rest!
How do I upload my utility bill?
From your Profile page, simply scan and upload your utility bill.
Why do I have to upload my utility bills?
In order to sell credits, they must be certified so that Buyers will know that the credits are real. MyEex will certify Personal Carbon Credits to one of the accepted standards like the Voluntary Carbon Standard, Climate Action Reserve or others. However, at this time there are no protocols for Personal Carbon Credits and My Emissions Exchange is in the process of writing that protocol.
Why was my credit not certified?
There are several possible explanations for why your credit certification failed. Most commonly, one of the bills is missing, the information on the bill does not match the Member data, or the data on the bill does not match the Member entries.
Sale of Credits
What can I do with my Credits?
Your credits will be sold on the international markets and you will receive the proceeds through PayPal. The options of what you do with that money are endless. In the future, you will be able to donate your credits to sponsors of your choice or use them to offset specific trips or projects.
Payment
How long will I have to wait until I start receiving money?
As soon as your credit is certified it will be sold and the proceeds deposited to your PayPal account.
How long will it take to earn a credit?
If you implement the “low hanging fruit” reduction practices, you can expect to earn your first credit in 30 to 90 days!
How do I get paid for my credits?
In order to receive money for your reductions, all you need is a PayPal account, which can be set up with an e-mail address. MyEex will deposit money directly into your PayPal account. MyEex will not need to collect any payment related account information and your privacy is protected. If you are not familiar with PayPal, you don’t even need to create a PayPal account right away. MyEex will prompt you to create a PayPal account when you have cash to collect. Best of all, it’s free!
Is there a minimum saving requirement?
Of course not! Any attempt to lower your energy bill is not only valued at MyEex, but also, an important step towards helping the environment. Even if you sign up and your energy bills rise, there is no penalty. We will merely suggest some alternative energy saving practices that might be of value to you.