A couple of posts ago, I introduced the concept of the LOTOJA Green Team and the challenge most ultra-distance sporting events face — what to do about the tremendous CO2 emissions associated with transporting participants and their support crews from point A to B and back again.

Through the registration process, LOTOJA participants were given the chance to purchase a range of carbon offsets for the event — from a Prius ($1.50) to a Hummer ($3.50).

Here’s the good news: 340 riders contributed generously to the Green Team initiative, enabling us to offset about 115 metric tonnes of CO2, or about 1/2 of the CO2 emissions associated with participant vehicles on race weekend. These contributions will directly support the development of three Certified Emission Reduction (CER) projects in Utah and Idaho:  the Granger South Jordan Landfill Gas Destruction Project in West Jordan City; and Intrepid Technology Resources’ Anaerobic Digesters at the Westpoint Dairy in Wendell and at the Whitesides Dairy Farm in Rupert. CERs will be purchased from EcoSecurities, a global leader in the business of sourcing, developing and trading emission reduction credits.

Great news!

After first blogging about the carbon footprint of LOTOJA back in September 2007, I’ve finally been able to do something about it. Earlier this year, I approached Brent Chambers, the race director, and convinced him to offer participants the chance to offset their race weekend carbon emissions. Working with Steve Gutmann in EcoSecurities‘ office in Portland, Oregon, we’ve put together an offering of offset options that cover the full range of LOTOJA support vehicles, from a Prius ($1.50) to a Hummer ($3.50)

As you can see from the screen shot above, LOTOJA participants are being encouraged to confront an issue that is fundamental to this event–and fundamental to long distance running relays as well. Driving an average of 500 miles, some 1,500 vehicles rack up over 750,000 total miles over the course of LOTOJA weekend. Assuming the average vehicle gets 20 miles per gallon, with emissions of 19.56 pounds of CO2 per gallon, the carbon footprint of LOTOJA participant travel is 733,500 pounds, or 332 metric tonnes of CO2! That’s equivalent to the energy use of 30 single-family homes for one year.

By joining LOTOJA’s Green Team, race participants will be directly supporting the development of three Verified Emission Reduction projects in Utah and Idaho:  the Granger South Jordan Landfill Gas Destruction Project in West Jordan City; and Intrepid Technology Resources’ Anaerobic Digesters at the Westpoint Dairy in Wendell and at the Whitesides Dairy Farm in Rupert.   The offsets will be independently verified to the California Climate Action Registry (CCAR) protocols.

Green Team members will receive a LOTOJA Green Team decal, along with special vehicle signage and a wristband to wear proudly on race day.