March 2021 CarbonBetter® Impact Update
Every month we share the impact our customers have made through their use of CarbonBetter energy, which is included in every Provision clean energy plan. Looking back at February 2021, we had some wild weather! Over 9,000 daily cold records were broken across the country, and we had the most widespread snow cover across our lower 48 states in at least 17 years.
Amidst all of this unprecedented weather, our customers did a lot of good through their CarbonBetter energy.
Our Customers’ CarbonBetter Impact – February 2021 Update
11.8k
mWh
Provision customers funded 11,819 mWh of clean energy generation since 10/2020, which could power roughly 1,270 homes for a year.*
7.2k
tons
Provision customers offset 7,193 tons of carbon since 10/2020, which is like avoiding over 17 million miles of driving.**
8.3k
trees
Provision customers funded planting 8,304 trees since 10/2020, which may sequester 151 tons of carbon.***
Want to be included in our next impact update?
It’s easy to contribute to the positive impact we make each month. All Provision energy plans include CarbonBetter energy, which helps you make a difference while you use energy at home. Our customers help fund clean energy generation through renewable energy credits, offset carbon through carbon credits, and plant trees to aid in reforestation and increase our natural carbon-capturing capabilities. It’s never too late to start using your energy for good.
Featured CarbonBetter Partner: OKO Forests
Introducing the OKO Tree Project
Provision recently partnered with the OKO Forests and Kokrobitey Institute to create the OK Tree Project, which planted 5,100 trees on 34 acres in Ghana in the third quarter of 2020, creating 10 new jobs and new economic opportunities for local farmers.
About the Planting Area
The Kogyae Strict Nature Reserve was established in 1971 in the transition zone between the forest zones of Ghana and the Guinea Savannah. Our tree planting area for the OK Tree Project is an agroforestry buffer zone that surrounds this important ecological preserve.
The OKO vision is that educated and empowered local communities play a vital role in the protection and enhancement of biodiversity. Small-scale farmers with the necessary knowledge of agroforestry can support the creation of carbon sinks to help address climate change while improving the quality of the soil, supporting biodiversity, and creating economic opportunities for local farmers and their communities through cash crops.
Over a period of four weeks in late 2020, the OK Tree Project team planted 5,000 trees in 34 acres of the buffer zone surrounding the Kogyae Strict Nature Preserve in Ghana.
The Agroforestry Model
Agroforestry is a farming and reforestation practice that offers a unique opportunity for carbon sequestration while delivering significant additional benefits to local communities. OKO develops regenerative agroforestry systems, with a vision to create replicable models that can be used at scale. In addition to carbon sequestration benefits, agroforests support economic opportunities through the planting of cash crops that improve soil and water quality.
OKO focuses on enabling small-scale farmers by empowering them with knowledge and resources to meaningfully contribute to local economies and long-term carbon sequestration efforts.
“We are helping to create a robust enabling environment for small-scale farmers to improve average annual incomes by supporting improved farming practices and improved yields by meeting international standards. We estimate that an increase in income of 30% will be realized through our agroforestry program.”
Kogyae Strict Nature Reserve Agroforestry Buffer Zone Report, May 2019
In addition to advocating for the benefits of agroforestry as a means of reforestation, OKO has a special focus on the economic empowerment of women, and they believe that society as a whole benefits when women are supported. Wherever possible OKO puts in mechanisms for women to take charge of financial management. The OK Tree Project with Provision had two female lead farmers.
What the OK Tree Project Team Planted
2,000 Acacia trees planted
In addition to carbon capture, Acacia provides neighboring cashew trees with nitrogen and additional natural fertilizer to assist growth.
1,000 planted
Bamboo is the fastest growing renewable resource and represents a significant opportunity for carbon capture and erosion management.
The team also planted 1,050 cashew trees, 1,000 dragon fruit trees, 50 avocado trees planted, and 7 acres of cassava. These represent cash crops for local farmers that improve local economies and help sustain the long-term work of reforestation.
Provision Customers are Using Energy for Good
Provision customers funded the planting of over 5,000 trees in the OK Tree Project by using CarbonBetter energy at home. These trees have been planted in partnership with OKO Forests, adjacent to the Kogyae Strict Nature Reserve, to serve both as carbon capture, but also to support local communities and the area’s biodiversity. Through partnerships like this, Provision customers are able to use their energy for good by planting trees, funding clean energy generation, and offsetting carbon emissions. We’re excited for our next planting project with OKO Forests.
Every Provision Customer Makes a Difference
About CarbonBetter Impact Calculations:
*The typical home in your area uses 9,300 kWh of electricity per year.
**https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gases-equivalencies-calculator-calculations-and-references#gasoline
***https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gases-equivalencies-calculator-calculations-and-references#seedlings
Impact is calculated based on customers’ billings in the impact month, but planting, funding, and offsetting may not happen in that month. These activities must align with planting seasons and project life cycles to be effective. If you have any questions, please contact us at hello@getprovosion.com.
