Shrine’s commitment to helping people extends beyond just our clients. We are committed to supporting causes we feel make the world a better place.
With that in mind, Shrine is proud to announce that we are now carbon neutral. We worked with the team at Solstroem to purchase offsets to offset the carbon produced by Shrine Employees and Contractors during their workdays.
What Is Carbon Offsetting?
Carbon offsetting is a process by which funds are directed to projects that help reduce global emissions. Companies and people often buy carbon offsets instead of reducing their carbon footprints, or they do both to make their emission reduction efforts go further.
Offsets are viewed as an important policy tool to maintain stable economies and to improve sustainability. Offsets are measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e). One tonne of carbon offset represents the reduction of one tonne of carbon dioxide or its equivalent in other greenhouse gases.
Many companies can’t reduce their emissions as much as they’d like to. In some cases, this is because their footprint is already small (e.g. software development company), but they want to do more.
Why Did We Partner With Solstroem?
At Shrine Development, we researched many offsetting options to ensure the one we chose had proven results with no possibility of fraud. The offset market is still maturing and the accounting process is sometimes undermined by double- or even triple-counting, where numerous parties take credit for a single offsetting program.
We found Solstroem to have a strong reputation as a company known for their transparency and traceability. Solstroem generates 100% traceable micro carbon offsets that cannot be double issued, or double spent. They were able to guarantee the origin of the purchased micro carbon offsets through a transparent and unique traceability feature, as well as a third party business assurance. Carbon offsetting with Solstroem contributes to a faster deployment of decentralized solar installations serving the needs of the world’s most vulnerable populations.
Where Did Our Contribution Go?
Shrine selected two valuable projects offered by Solstroem to direct our offsets. These program partners (solar companies) are registered business entities in their geographies of activity, whose primary business is to provide clean energy access to rural and otherwise unserved communities.
Our initial contribution was directed to a program called iluméxico. Over 1.2 billion people lack access to electricity worldwide and in Mexico alone, more than 2 million are not connected to the electricity grid. After nine years of working with the base of the socioeconomic pyramid, iluméxico has developed a comprehensive model designed to fulfill their mission: fighting poverty through the supply of clean energy. iluméxico’s vision is to provide all Mexicans with access to affordable and clean energy.
We next selected the Soluna Energía program in Colombia. Over a million people in Colombia still live without access to quality, reliable energy. Soluna is a next-generation utility that combines expertise and cutting-edge technology to create a last-mile energy business that provides electricity services to the families in Colombia that do not have access to quality energy. Soluna exists to change this story and to ensure that all families– no matter how far or how remote– have access to power.
What’s Next?
Shrine Development has always been about more than simply developing software. It’s about working with people who are on a mission to serve the world. With our sponsorship efforts, we take this same ethos and, with great pleasure, partner with outstanding non-profits and causes.”
Douglas Drouillard, CEO
Shrine continues to sponsor programs that help make the world a better place, focusing on environmental causes, youth and e-sports, arts and culture, and more.
Have A Program To Recommend?
We want to hear from you! Please let us know if you have a non-profit, sponsorship opportunity or charity you would like us to check out.
References
Siegel, R. P. (2020, October 22). The Pros and Cons of Carbon Offsetting. Means and Matters. https://meansandmatters.bankofthewest.com/article/living/the-pros-and-cons-of-carbon-offsetting/.
Wikimedia Foundation. (2021, May 14). Carbon offset. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_offset.
About the Solstroem programme. (2020). https://www.solstroem.com/about-the-programme.
