carbon credits - Green Prophet

140 companies bought dubious carbon credits from Brazil; BlackRock, Deloitte, and Phillip Morris among them

Karin Kloosterman — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 17:54:31 +0000

A Brazil rainforest could store carbon

Consulting giants EY, BCG, KPMG and Deloitte relied on the offsets, raising concerns about how corporate climate claims are being verified.

All the more reason to hire an in-house sustainability agent who understands carbon credits and sustainability. An investigation published today in the Wall Street Journal reveals that more than 140 corporations were allowed to claim carbon offsets credits from one of the world’s largest projects hosted by Verra in Brazil, despite the fact that the project was under investigation for claims regarding its legitimacy.

Corporations such as BlackRock, Mastercard, and Phillip Morris International were allowed to retire and count these credits towards their emissions-reducing activities while the project was suspended. Evidence suggests that the project may have been illegitimate from its establishment, due to claims that it was located on public lands where it did not have a legal right to operate.

The Panatal in Brazil via National Geographic

Additional research by Corporate Accountability released today reveals that over 70% of all carbon credits recently retired in Brazil are “problematic” and cannot be counted on to deliver their promised emissions reductions. If you are filing shareholder reports for ESG activities which include Brazil, dig deeper.

The researchers examined the top 50 carbon offset projects in Brazil between January 2024 and June 2025 — which are also among the largest projects globally — and found that millions of these problematic offsets were retired by multinational corporations and counted towards their emissions reductions despite not being likely to deliver.

“Carbon offsets have failed to lead to a decrease in global greenhouse gas emissions,” said Rachel Rose Jackson, Director of Climate Research and Policy at Corporate Accountability.

“Meanwhile, the claims of harm to communities and ecosystems caused by these projects continue to pile up. Yet again, the evidence suggests that those promoting and profiting off these projects cannot be counted on to help protect the planet. With life at stake, who is liable for the continued failures of these projects and the carbon market more broadly? And how many more times do we need to see evidence of their failure before we reorient towards more meaningful and proven solutions that reduce emissions and keep fossil fuels in the ground?”

The research in the new report from Corporate Accountability shows that 32 of the top 50 carbon offsets projects in Brazil are unlikely to reduce emissions. These projects retired 15.7 million carbon offsets credits between January 2024 and June 2025. This means that a substantial portion of the offsets from these projects that corporations were counting towards their emissions reductions were likely doing little to nothing to reduce emissions.

All of this while communities around the world face worsening floods, droughts, and extreme weather — as well as systemic violence fueled and enabled by some of the world’s largest corporate polluters in places like Palestine, Sudan, Venezuela, Iran and elsewhere.

Verra, the world’s largest carbon credit certifier, hosts 23 of the 32 problematic projects in Brazil, which accounts for 12.8 million carbon offsets credits retired between January 2024 and June 2025. Despite promises of reform amidst repeated integrity concerns, Verra appears to continue to host projects that are not proven to deliver real and lasting emissions reductions, says Corporate Accountability.

The Clean Development Mechanism hosts the remaining nine problematic projects, accounting for 2.9 million offsets retired during this period. The Clean Development Mechanism has a history of hosting projects that lack real emissions reductions and has been estimated to actually increase global emissions by 6.1 billion tons of carbon dioxide through approval of empty offsets, according to Corporate Accountability.

Corporate Accountability’s research also revealed that many major international corporations across sectors have retired offsets from these problematic Brazil-based projects. Petrobras retired nearly 200,000 credits from these problematic projects during the research period. Shell retired approximately 66,500 credits, and Equinor nearly 21,000. BlackRock retired 137,000 problematic credits from these projects.

Consulting firms also made significant use of these questionable offsets. EY retired nearly 179,000 credits from problematic Brazil projects. BCG retired around 90,000 credits. KPMG and Deloitte each retired around 5,500 credits. Other corporations using these problematic offsets include Barilla, Philip Morris, Uber, SWIFT, Mastercard, S&P Global, Engie, Yamaha Motor, and Dell.

The voluntary carbon market is predicted to grow significantly in coming years. Climate advocates, academics, communities, and experts are calling for immediate action to reverse the harms and failures of the carbon market, and to course-correct to real solutions that will put us on a proven pathway to Real Zero emissions.

Carlos Augusto Pantoja Ramos, a forestry engineer and PhD student at the Amazonian Institute of Family Agriculture at the Federal University of Pará in Brazil, has worked extensively with communities impacted by carbon offsets projects. He explained that it is not the communities near projects like Pacajaí that have benefitted from these projects.

“The attempt to capture public and common goods, such as land, by projects such as Pacajaí can intensify the concentration of income in the hands of a few corporations and institutional investors, deepening the severe social inequality in regions like the Amazon. This reveals disproportionate gain relationships between the parties involved, many of whom lack the structure and/or technical knowledge to assert their rights.”

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Leading Through a Dual-Energy Transition: Balancing Decarbonisation with Energy Security

Bhok Thompson — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 14:42:11 +0000

Hydro-electric dams are not just engineering feats. MBAs, carbon credit financing, and real estate negotiation are part of the art of the deal. Image: Supplied.

When people think of sustainable energy and the transition to a renewable model, they might think of it as a clean break: fossil fuels are out, renewables are in. Unfortunately, the process is anything but clean or linear. Decarbonization is moving forward, but hydrocarbons are still an integral part of our energy systems, economies, and infrastructure. It can’t just be turned off.

This creates what amounts to a dual transition. Leaders are in a position where they must reduce emissions while still keeping the lights on and the economies stable. It’s not merely a question of technology, it’s also a huge leadership challenge that calls for strategy, policy, and risk management.

A Dual-Energy Transition: Double the Challenge

Today’s energy systems are under pressure from several directions at once. Climate targets are calling for a rapid reduction in emissions, while energy security concerns are pushing governments and companies to ensure there’s a reliable, affordable supply of energy. As one might expect, these goals don’t always line up neatly.

Geopolitical tensions, trade dynamics, and infrastructure limitations further complicate things. Things like pipeline capacity, grid limitations, and regional resource distribution all influence how quickly new energy sources can be brought to bear. Added to which, demand is continuing to rise. Expanding data centers and AI-driven technologies are currently sucking up enormous amounts of water and electricity. Not only do today’s sustainability professionals have to continue to meet this skyrocketing demand, but they also have to plan for sustainable growth and cut carbon intensity at the same time. It’s a lot.

Hydrocarbon vs. Renewables: Competing or Coexisting?

A dual energy landscape isn’t some dreamed-of future. In reality, hydrocarbons and renewables are already coexisting. Oil and gas are still the backbone of the world energy supply, while wind, solar, and other low-carbon technologies are continuing to grow.

Many companies and organizations now manage mixed energy portfolios that include both renewable and traditional energy projects. Reliable fossil fuels most often provide grid stability, while renewable capacity expands and storage technologies mature. There are also technologies like carbon capture and storage that seek to reduce emissions while long-term transitions take place. Many companies are trying to bridge the current energy reality and the renewable future, which is an ongoing and sophisticated balancing act.

That brings us to the question of leadership and the role it must play in this transitional period.

The Leadership Challenge

Today’s senior leaders in the energy sector are under a lot of pressure. On one hand, they have to pursue decarbonization goals in order to meet regulations and investor demands, while on the other they are held accountable for stability, profitability and access in regards to energy.

Every decision made at this level can have long-term consequences. Investing too slowly in low-carbon technologies could result in stranded assets and damage to one’s reputation for not embracing sustainability; moving too quickly without securing energy supply runs the risk of outages, price spikes, and political backlash.

This sort of complex and delicate situation calls for leaders who can operate in the strategic, regulatory, and commercial spheres with equal skill. Technical knowledge is a necessity, but it’s also not enough. Today’s energy professionals need to understand how markets, policy, and finance all intersect with the realities of sustainable engineering.

Developing Leaders for the Dual-Energy Era

In other words, today’s leaders need a broad and integrated skill set. What kind of skills in particular? For one, a working knowledge of policy and regulatory frameworks is crucial. Financial management skills play a major part, since projects are often long, involved, and can be tremendously costly. Strategic planning and problem-solving are also a vital part of the core skillset, as professionals have to deal with uncertainty, balance stakeholder interests with feasibility, and be able to adapt to a constantly and rapidly changing environment.

This is a large-scale challenge, and one that calls for structured leadership development. Experience in one area of the energy industry isn’t enough to guarantee readiness across all the others. That’s where a structured program like an MBA in energy can come in. Today’s advanced curricula explore energy economics, finance, policy, and strategic management alongside the technical subjects. And when pursuing an energy MBA online, professionals can skill up and retrain without having to step out of the labor market — an important perk at a time when skilled professionals are already in short supply.

The energy transition is not a linear progression. It’s a period of overlap, tension, and recalibration as mistakes are made and technologies emerge or are abandoned. Those technologies will always be evolving, but the need for skilled leadership will remain a constant. Those who can balance decarbonization efforts with energy security and profitability will help shape the future of our energy landscape.

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Can biochar reduce ‘Forever Chemicals’ in food if it’s used in farms?

Karin Kloosterman — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 08:39:43 +0000

New York Carbon has a facility located between the Catskill Mountains and the Hudson River. They produce high carbon biochar from local waste biomass in their Tigercat Carbonator 6050. Image via NY Carbon.

PFAS — often called “forever chemicals” — are among the most stubborn pollutants on Earth. Used for decades in firefighting foams, industrial coatings, and consumer products, their carbon–fluorine bonds make them extraordinarily persistent in soil, water, and living organisms. Worse, PFAS don’t just stay put. Even at low concentrations, they can be taken up by crops and move through the food chain, with short-chain PFAS proving especially mobile.

A growing body of research suggests that biohacking soil chemistry, rather than removing contaminated soil entirely, may offer a practical way forward. One promising tool: biochar.

A study published in Environmental and Biogeochemical Processes (27 November 2025) by Jason C. White and colleagues at The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station shows that iron-fortified biochar can significantly reduce PFAS uptake in food crops. In controlled soil–plant experiments, iron-modified biochar lowered total PFAS accumulation in radish plants by nearly 50%, and reduced PFAS concentrations in the edible bulb by more than 25%.

The researchers worked with PFAS-contaminated sandy loam soil impacted by legacy firefighting foams. They tested hemp-derived biochar produced at different temperatures, with and without iron fortification. While standard biochar showed mixed results, low-temperature (500 °C) biochar fortified with ~8% iron proved highly effective, immobilizing PFAS and preventing them from moving into plant tissue.

Biochar is not the same as coal. Image copyright Green Prophet

Why iron? Lab analysis revealed that iron fortification dramatically increased biochar’s surface area and pore volume, creating reactive sites that bind PFAS molecules through electrostatic and ligand-exchange interactions. Importantly, the biochar caused no phytotoxic effects and often improved plant growth — a critical factor for agricultural use.

The implications are significant. Instead of costly soil removal or long-term land abandonment, farmers could use iron-enhanced biochar as a soil amendment to lock PFAS in place, reducing human exposure through food. Because biochar can be made from agricultural waste like hemp and applied using existing farming practices, the approach fits neatly within circular-economy and climate-smart agriculture frameworks.

Biohacking soil won’t erase PFAS from the planet. But this research suggests it may help break the chain between polluted land and polluted food — a meaningful step toward safer agriculture in a contaminated world.

How Biochar Is Made

Biochar is produced by heating organic material in a low-oxygen environment so it does not burn. This process, known as pyrolysis, transforms plant matter into a stable, carbon-rich material.

The feedstock can include agricultural residues such as wood chips, crop waste, nutshells, hemp stalks, or manure. These materials are first dried, then heated to temperatures typically ranging from 350 to 700 degrees Celsius in a sealed kiln or reactor where oxygen is limited. Because oxygen is absent, the biomass does not combust; instead, volatile gases are driven off, and the remaining carbon reorganizes into a porous, charcoal-like structure.

Once the heating phase is complete, the material is cooled in low oxygen to prevent ignition. The resulting biochar contains a network of microscopic pores that give it a large surface area and unique chemical properties. These pores allow biochar to retain water, nutrients, and contaminants when added to soil.

Biochar can also be engineered after production. It may be steam-activated to increase surface area, fortified with minerals such as iron to bind pollutants, or “charged” with compost or nutrients before soil application. When applied correctly, biochar can persist in soil for hundreds to thousands of years.

How Biochar Is Different From Coal

Although biochar and coal may look similar, they are fundamentally different materials with very different roles in the carbon cycle.

Coal is a fossil fuel formed from ancient plant matter that was buried and transformed under heat and pressure over millions of years. It is mined from the ground and burned for energy, releasing carbon that has been locked away since prehistoric times. Coal often contains sulfur, heavy metals, and other impurities, and its primary purpose is combustion.

Biochar, by contrast, is made from recent plant material and produced intentionally in modern systems over hours or days. It is not designed to be burned. Instead, biochar is meant to remain stable in soil, where it can improve soil structure, retain nutrients, immobilize pollutants, and store carbon.

From a climate perspective, the distinction matters. Burning coal releases ancient carbon into the atmosphere, increasing net emissions. Biochar locks up carbon from the current biological cycle, helping reduce atmospheric carbon when used as a soil amendment.

KEMET addresses the limited access to capital that restricts the development and scaling of biochar carbon capture projects. Image via KEMET

In short, coal is an energy source. Biochar is a soil tool. And it’s an investable commodity. A new fund manager in Texas has her eye on the growing demand for carbon credit projects that remove carbon from the atmosphere. Biochar, created through a process called pyrolysis that involves heating biomass and biowaste, is an emerging solution for trapping carbon. The biochar not only sequesters carbon, it can restore soil health and enable soil to store greater amounts of carbon. Founder Heather Stiles and her firm Kemet make debt and equity investments in companies supporting biochar production and use, waste-to-energy projects, and carbon trading. “The nascent biochar market lacks dominant players,” the company says. And now they have a new market: in agriculture.

Biochar companies in the US and Canada

NY Carbon – Large-scale biochar producer serving New York and New England markets

Finger Lakes Biochar – Regional biochar production for agriculture and remediation

Vermont Biochar – Farm- and soil-focused biochar production

The Biochar Company – Biochar for agriculture, remediation, and carbon storage

Integro Earth Fuels – Biomass pyrolysis and biochar production

Re:char – Mobile and modular biochar systems, soil and waste applications

Seattle Biochar – Biochar production from regional biomass waste

Whitfield Biochar – Biochar and carbon materials for soil and remediation

Carbonity (Airex Energy subsidiary) – Industrial-scale biochar and biocarbon production (Canada)

Canadian Biochar Investments (CBCI) – Modular biochar systems and carbon removal projects across Canada

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Nature as Capital at COP30 and how blended finance and debt-for-nature swaps work

Karin Kloosterman — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 09:05:14 +0000

Jubail mangrove wal in Abu Dhabi

Belém’s COP30 puts forests, freshwater and oceans at center stage. How are emerging markets treating nature as infrastructure— and plugging it into finance and trade. We know that the world has reached the coral tipping point, and as you are busy saving the trees and oceans, know how activists, locals, banks and business can work together. Learn the lingo of finance mechanisms to help save the planet.

Everyone will cover the headlines from the United Nation’s climate conference, this year called COP30 and which is in Belém, Brazil. Fewer will explain the mechanics of how nature becomes cashflow, trade leverage and resilience infrastructure—especially for the Global South. That’s the gap we’re filling. Green Prophet offers a practical question: what instruments exist right now to turn living systems into value chains that stand up to droughts, floods and supply-chain shocks? And how can MENA, Africa and Latin America lead instead of only react.

Know your terminology if you want to follow the conversations in the room

Blended Finance

Econcrete restores coastal habitats with low-cost concrete that mimics a natural shoreline.

Blended finance is the engine room. Public and philanthropic “first-loss” capital de-risks deals; commercial investors come in behind. The aim is to move beyond pilot projects into pipelines that pay for restoration at scale. The World Bank’s recent review shows a surprising depth of activity in nature-based infrastructure, with millions of people already benefiting from coastal and watershed projects that reduce disaster risk while growing local economies.

Let’s take an example we can get behind: Imagine there is huge project to fix a coastline that’s getting destroyed by storms over and over again. We know that planting mangrove trees and building natural barriers to protect homes and schools works. But who pays for this, especially in developing nations like Thailand, where government money might be tight, especially on small islands.

Thailand’s, and Saudi Arabian mangrove forests can help mitigate climate change by keeping rising tides and storms at bay

The problem is that it costs a lot to plant and maintain mangrove trees and natural barriers, and even less natural ones like the ones built by Eco-Concrete in costal areas of New York. There is a lot of good reasons why protecting coastlines are good: tourism, business and stability to invest in a region pay off in the long term.

So how does blended finance work? Big investors might not build a university or a business center in an at-risk area like Indonesia because its islands are at-risk from flooding. They watch as government and charities go first to build pilot projects. These groups take the first losses and are buffered to do so. When investors see a project or pilot is working, the investors and banks can join in.

The end result is that if it’s a project on island resilience, and it’s done well with the local community, the fishermen get more fish, the houses and infrastructure don’t flood, and tourism and businesses in the area improve. Now instead of the government or local municipality working to clean up new disasters as they happen, the community and investors protect a community and its economy.

Where this is doing well:
Indonesia: planting mangroves to protect coasts and create jobs, in Kenya where they are restoring forests to secure water for cities and farms and in Colombia, where they are rebuilding riversides to stop floods and boost tourism. The World Bank found millions of people already benefiting from nature-based projects like these. They’re not just experiments — but are becoming real business pipelines.

Debt for Nature Swaps

Debt-for-nature swaps are also keywords you will hear coming out of COP30 and debt-for-nature is having a moment. By refinancing sovereign debt of a nation and locking savings into conservation endowments, countries can protect mangroves, reefs and forests while improving fiscal stability.

The Bahamas’ swap—backed by private guarantees and insurers—unlocked roughly $124 million for ocean protection and mangrove recovery. Expect more hybrids like “blue bonds,” watershed bonds, and biodiversity-linked notes as COP30 pushes nature up the finance agenda.

Canada is beginning to explore similar nature-finance mechanisms. They are offering grants for businesses that support climate change initiatives. While small island nations pioneered debt-for-nature swaps, the logic applies anywhere natural assets protect economies. Take the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes Basin. This is a freshwater system worth trillions in trade, shipping, drinking water, hydropower, and fisheries — yet it faces rising storm surges, coastal erosion, surges in algae blooms, and biodiversity loss.

Imagine a Canadian “watershed bond” modelled on the Bahamas’ blue bond play: federal and provincial governments refinance aging municipal debt in water-adjacent cities like Toronto beaches, Kingston, Thunder Bay, and Windsor. Interest savings are then routed into a protected watershed fund to restore wetlands, rebuild fish nurseries, and reinforce natural floodplains that protect ports and neighborhoods.

Who backs it? Pension funds like CPP Investments, insurers hedging climate risk, and Indigenous-led stewardship trusts that secure long-term governance. Satellite and LiDAR data verify improved water quality, carbon storage, and flood protection — giving investors confidence that nature isn’t just a moral win, but a balance-sheet asset.

Nature Markets

Circle farming in Holland uses AI and nature together.

Nature markets are growing up fast — and not just carbon trading. Investors and governments are starting to put real contracts behind things like restoring habitats, protecting species, and improving fisheries. In the past, these ideas lived in Canva or PowerPoint presentations and pilot projects that didn’t go far beyond the anecdote stage. Today, they’re showing up in legal agreements, budgets, and deal pipelines.

What changed? Measurement tech and startups working in the impact space. We can now track how many fish return to a reef, how much flood damage is avoided when wetlands are restored, or how many species come back when forests regrow. When you can measure nature’s value, you can finance it. Also, investors found that impact companies can return significantly higher returns on investment.

The early winners will be projects that do more than one thing: reduce carbon, protect coasts, boost fishing incomes, create jobs, and improve water security. In short, projects and companies that score high in ESG. Instead of selling just one benefit, they’ll earn money from many revenue streams. The future natural economy isn’t supposed to be about charity — it’s revenue, resilience, and concepts like regenerative agriculture working together.

What to watch at COP30

A Brazil rainforest

Belém in Brazil may be remembered as the summit where nature moved from a side-event to system change. If you are there at the event, Look for bigger blended-finance vehicles for forests and watersheds, standardized biodiversity/ecosystem credit frameworks, clearer guidance on how trade tools like CBAM and deforestation-free rules interact with development and equity goals, and concrete deals in the Amazon and beyond that link restoration to export growth.

Media attention will swirl around politics, but the durable story is finance and how data can turn ecosystems, including jungles and seashore towns, into resilient value-chains.

Explore related coverage on Green Prophet

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World Green Economy Summit 2025: Sandeep Chandna’s Mission to Make Sustainability Core to Business Strategy

Karin Kloosterman — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 04:05:14 +0000

Tech Mahindra’s Sandeep Chadna

At this year’s World Green Economy Summit 2025, Tech Mahindra’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Sandeep Chandna, is not mincing words. In an exclusive conversation with Green Prophet, he insists that sustainability has outgrown its role as a corporate side-project. Forget box-ticking ESG reports — Chandna says the future belongs to companies bold enough to treat sustainability as their core strategy for innovation, resilience, and survival.

Why does this matter? Because Tech Mahindra isn’t just talking the talk. It’s the first Indian company to win the Terra Carta Seal from King Charles III, ranked #2 globally for IT services on the S&P Dow Jones Sustainability Indices, and is already cutting emissions with AI-powered tools and a growing renewable energy footprint. Chandna reveals how putting a price on carbon inside the company — $12 a ton — is changing investment decisions, and how platforms like i.GreenFinance are pushing banks and institutions toward measurable green impact.

For those still treating ESG as a PR exercise, this is a warning shot. Chandna’s message is clear: sustainability is no longer optional. It’s the new operating system for business — one that could define winners and losers in the decade ahead.

Green Prophet: At the World Green Economy Summit 2025, what key message will you be delivering to global sustainability leaders?

Sandeep Chandna – Chief Sustainability Officer, Tech Mahindra:

At the World Green Economy Summit 2025, our core message will be clear: sustainability must shift from being a compliance checkbox to a strategic, purpose-driven imperative that powers innovation, resilience, and inclusive growth. We stand at a critical inflection point where ESG is no longer a reporting exercise, it is the blueprint for future-ready enterprises. We want to spotlight how digital transformation, when purposefully aligned with climate and social goals, can catalyze systemic change. Tech Mahindra’s journey, from pioneering green IT to launching AI-powered sustainability platforms, demonstrates that technology is an enabler and a force multiplier. We will also advocate for cross-sector collaboration, urging leaders to move beyond silos and co-create solutions that honor both planetary boundaries and human aspirations.

How does Tech Mahindra’s role as the only Indian company with the Terra Carta Seal influence your global positioning in sustainability?

Being awarded the Terra Carta Seal by His Majesty King Charles III is both an honor and a mandate. It places Tech Mahindra among a select cohort of global companies recognized for credible, science-aligned transition strategies. As the First Indian recipient, it amplifies our voice in international sustainability dialogues and affirms our leadership in climate-conscious innovation. The Seal validates our commitment to nature-positive solutions, from smart infrastructure to green software. It also strengthens our engagement with standards and frameworks like the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) 2021, Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), International Sustainability Standards Board’s (ISSB) IFRS S1 and S2 standards, Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR), International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol standards. More than recognition, it is a call to action: to lead with integrity, scale impact, and inspire others across industries and borders.

You’ve been ranked #1 in India and #2 globally in the S&P Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for IT services. How do you translate such rankings into tangible real-world impact?

These rankings are a testament to our rigor and transparency across ESG dimensions, but their true value lies in how we operationalize them. At Tech Mahindra, we have embedded sustainability into the DNA of our business. From reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by over 31% since 2016 to sourcing 31% renewable energy across owned campuses, our actions speak louder than metrics. We have achieved Zero Waste to Landfill certification at key locations and implemented ESG-aligned procurement protocols. These outcomes benefit the environment, enhance stakeholder trust, drive cost efficiencies, and position us as a preferred partner for purpose-driven customers.

Can you share a project or initiative where your sustainability strategy delivered measurable results for both the business and the environment?

One of our most impactful initiatives has been the transition to renewable energy across our campuses. Through strategic investments in solar infrastructure and green power purchase agreements, we have achieved a 31% renewable energy mix at owned locations and nearly 23% globally. This has led to a 31% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions compared to our 2016 baseline. Beyond environmental gains, the initiative has delivered tangible business benefits, lower operational costs, enhanced energy resilience, and stronger ESG credentials. Complementing this is our green mobility program, which promotes electric vehicle adoption and sustainable commuting, further reinforcing our commitment to climate-positive action.

With a goal of carbon neutrality by 2030 and net zero by 2035, what innovations or policies will be most critical in reaching these targets?

Achieving these ambitious milestones demands a holistic and forward-looking strategy. Our internal carbon pricing, currently set at $12 per metric ton, serves as a financial compass, guiding investments toward low-carbon alternatives. We are aggressively scaling renewable energy adoption, targeting 90% sourcing by 2030. Innovations such as AI-driven energy optimization, smart buildings, and digital twins are being deployed to enhance operational efficiency. Policy-wise, we are aligning with SBTi-approved Net Zero targets and embedding ESG criteria into procurement and vendor governance. These levers, technology, policy, and behavioral transformation are essential to decarbonizing our value chain while sustaining growth and competitiveness.

How is internal carbon pricing changing decision-making within Tech Mahindra?

Our internal carbon pricing mechanism has fundamentally reshaped how we evaluate investments and operational decisions. By assigning a tangible cost to carbon, $12 per metric ton, we have embedded climate risk into our financial modeling and strategic planning. This approach incentivizes low-carbon innovation, accelerates renewable energy adoption, and ensures that sustainability is a core consideration in everything from facility upgrades to supply chain choices. It is a cultural shift that reinforces our commitment to responsible growth and climate stewardship. It empowers teams to make decisions that are not only economically sound but environmentally aligned.

Could you elaborate on how platforms like i.Greenfinance are helping clients accelerate their own sustainability journeys?

AI platform for green finance

i.GreenFinance is a transformative platform that enables financial institutions to embed sustainability into their lending and investment decisions through automated ESG scoring with sector-specific KPI weighting. For instance, carbon emissions are prioritized in energy lending, while biodiversity and land-use practices take precedence in agriculture. These weights are fully adjustable to reflect regional requirements, regulatory frameworks, and institutional sustainability policies.

Built on an API-first architecture, the platform integrates seamlessly into existing Loan Origination Systems, enabling smart green loan underwriting where sustainability insights and ESG scores are embedded directly into credit decisioning workflows without disrupting core banking systems. Beyond origination, i.GreenFinance provides post-approval tracking of loan proceeds to ensure disbursed funds support their intended sustainable projects, from renewable energy deployment to green infrastructure upgrades. This delivers transparency and accountability for both lenders and borrowers.

The platform combines taxonomy mapping, feasibility reporting, and real-time analytics to provide comprehensive views of project viability and climate risk. These outputs are designed to support internal decision-making, helping lenders evaluate applications, monitor fund usage, and align portfolios with global sustainability standards.

With high configurability, i.GreenFinance adapts to each institution’s policies, product mix, and regional context. By making ESG performance sector-specific, customizable, auditable, and trackable across the loan lifecycle, the platform empowers institutions to move from intent to measurable impact, accelerating their journey toward responsible finance and net zero alignment.

What role will AI, IoT, and other emerging technologies play in driving sustainability transformations for global clients?

With the emergence of Generative AI, we’re solving sustainability’s most pressing challenges at unprecedented scale. i.GreenFinance exemplifies this innovation, delivering smart green loan underwriting, feasibility analysis, and real-time proceeds tracking that transforms how financial institutions approach sustainable lending.

Beyond finance, we’re tackling complex sustainability challenges using agentic AI across ESG reporting automation, dynamic materiality assessment, climate risk evaluation, supply chain assessments, and document intelligence. These solutions address a critical pain point for large enterprises, interoperability across multiple reporting regimes including CSRD, ISSB, SFDR, and regional taxonomies. Our platforms automatically harmonize data across frameworks, ensuring sustainability information is configurable, actionable, and audit ready.

IoT technology complements our AI capabilities by feeding real-time sensor data from assets, buildings, and infrastructure directly into our platforms. This integration enables continuous monitoring, predictive analytics, and early-warning systems for emissions tracking, energy efficiency optimization, and resource usage management—transforming raw operational data into actionable sustainability insights that drive immediate decision-making.

The convergence of AI and IoT creates intelligent sustainability ecosystems that provide 360-degree visibility into environmental performance. Organizations can now identify inefficiencies before they occur, optimize resource allocation in real-time, and demonstrate measurable progress toward sustainability goals with unprecedented precision.

Together, AI and IoT are redefining sustainability, making it smarter, faster, and measurable while empowering organizations to evolve from reactive compliance to proactive strategic foresight and value creation. This technological revolution enables businesses to anticipate risks, capitalize on opportunities, and accelerate their transformation toward sustainable operations.

Your first TNFD report integrates nature-related risks into corporate strategy. How will this shape future investments and operations?

Our TNFD-aligned disclosures mark a strategic evolution, from climate-centric reporting to nature-inclusive governance. By assessing dependencies on biodiversity, water, waste management and ecosystem services, we are embedding nature risk into investment decisions, site planning, and supply chain management. Future expansions will be evaluated for financial viability and ecological integrity. We are developing nature-positive KPIs and integrating them into our ESG dashboards, ensuring that regeneration is part of our strategy. Our proactive efforts to manage nature-related risks and seize opportunities reflect our dedication to creating long-term value for our stakeholders while safeguarding the environment. We understand that the journey towards sustainability is ongoing, and we are committed to continuously improving our practices and strategies to meet the evolving challenges of our global ecosystem. TNFD is helping us future-proof our business, align with planetary boundaries, and contribute meaningfully to global biodiversity goals.

Beyond corporate targets, what legacy do you hope Tech Mahindra’s sustainability strategy will leave for the industry and the planet?

We aspire to leave behind a legacy of transformation, where sustainability is a catalyst for systemic change. We want to demonstrate that purpose-driven technology can solve complex global challenges, from climate resilience to social equity. By embedding ESG into our core strategy, launching nature-positive platforms, and championing inclusive innovation, we aim to inspire a paradigm shift across industries. If we can help reframe sustainability as a source of value, trust, and regeneration, then our legacy will be one of leadership in building a better future for generations to come.

::Tech Mahindra

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Soccer star Hakan Çalhanoğlu kicks off massive reforestation project in Turkey with gamers from My Lovely Planet

Julie Steinbeck — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 14:15:59 +0000

Hakan Çalhanoğlu supporting reforestation with Hakan in Kuşadası

Football star Hakan Çalhanoğlu and his wife Sinem announced the creation of the Çalhanoğlu Forest, in partnership with My Lovely Planet (MLP), a Web3 mobile game that transforms gameplay into real-world tree planting.

Turkey is a natural paradise. Sailing along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts reveals miles of untouched beaches, wild mountains, and fragrant forests. It is hard to believe such beauty still exists in a world where development and fire threaten our last remaining carbon sinks.

And thanks to a new initiative hosted by a football star and an online game, Turkey is about to get a lot more trees.

Last year, Green Prophet highlighted the inspiring story of Şehmus Erginoglu, a man in his 70s who spent 30 years planting 11,000 trees on a wasteland in his hometown of Mardin. His devotion transformed barren land into a living forest (read that story here). Like the French allegory The Man Who Planted Trees, Erginoglu proved that one person’s commitment can heal landscapes for future generations.

Sehmus Erginoglu poses with photo of trees he helped restore. (All pictures by Murat Bayram/MEE)

Today, football legend Hakan Çalhanoğlu is expanding this tradition of ecological heroism—through gaming online and in the real world.

A Forest Born from Football and Gaming

On September 18, 2025, international football star Hakan Çalhanoğlu and his wife Sinem announced the creation of the Çalhanoğlu Forest, in partnership with My Lovely Planet (MLP), a Web3 mobile game that transforms gameplay into real-world tree planting.

“Football has given me so much, and now I want to give something back, not just to my country, but to the world,” said Çalhanoğlu. “With My Lovely Planet, fans can have fun and directly join me in bringing impact while enjoying the game. Together, we can make gaming meaningful.”

MLP has already planted 380,000 trees worldwide. Built by the gaming veterans behind Candy Crush, Royal Match, and Fortnite, and selected by Google’s #WeArePlay program, the game proves that the hours people spend swiping screens can translate into ecological recovery.

“We’re building more than a game. We’re building a movement where entertainment fuels real-world action,” said Clément Le Bras, Founder and CEO of My Lovely Planet. “The Kuşadası project is just the beginning – and partnering with Hakan allows us to inspire millions of fans to make a difference, one download at a time.”

Healing After the Fires

Land after the fires: My Lovely Planet play-to-restore app for ecological reforestation

The Çalhanoğlu Forest will take root in Kuşadası, Aydın Province, an area devastated by wildfires June, 2024. Like in Europe, Los Angeles, and Canada, Turkey has suffered massive losses from climate change–driven fires. Rebuilding these landscapes requires urgent cooperation and long-term monitoring.

The initiative’s first phase will plant 10,000 saplings, covering an area equivalent to 50 football fields. This reforestation effort is financed by Çalhanoğlu himself. Native species—Turkish pine (Pinus brutia), oak (Quercus spp.), and select fruit/value trees—will ensure resilience against future droughts and fires.

But Phase 1 is only the beginning. Because planting trees and taking care of them requires a village. Coldplay figured this out after they planted mango trees that later died.

In Phase 2, gamers worldwide can download My Lovely Planet, play, and directly contribute to planting more trees alongside Hakan and Sinem. Each in-game action unlocks a real-world tree, grown under the supervision of the Turkish Tohum Association (Tohum Eğitim Kültür ve Doğa Derneği).

This system of play-to-restore means ecological recovery is no longer limited to philanthropists or governments—it becomes a collective, gamified mission accessible to anyone with a smartphone.

MLP’s approach is simple but radical: entertainment should have an ecological consequence. Every swipe, match, or level passed results in tangible reforestation.

This concept mirrors earlier environmental movements where people were encouraged to plant a tree for every child born, or every wedding celebrated. I planted a fig tree when I got married and an olive tree when my daughter was born – but that’s just a few trees. MLP scales it for the digital generation: trees for every download, every victory, every hour of fun.

By embedding reforestation into daily play, the initiative bypasses the apathy often felt toward distant environmental problems. Climate action becomes seamless, enjoyable, and habitual.

Legacy, Literature, and Lessons

The Man Who Planted Trees was made into a short film

As a teenager in Canada, I remember reading The Man Who Planted Trees (L’homme qui plantait des arbres) by French author Jean Giono. It told the story of Elzéard Bouffier, a shepherd who spent decades reforesting a barren valley in Provence. Though fictional, the story inspired countless people to believe in the quiet power of persistence. There is also the story of Miss Rumphius, popular today as a children’s book about a woman who dedicated her life to planting lupine seeds.

Today, Çalhanoğlu’s project echoes that message—while updating it for the digital age. Instead of one shepherd or one man from Mardin planting alone, millions can now plant together with their thumbs. The symbolism is powerful: a footballer, known for precision and endurance, redirecting the energy of his fans toward something larger than sport.

The Çalhanoğlu Forest also demonstrates how global cooperation can emerge in unexpected forms. It links international sport, tech innovation, grassroots NGOs, and climate resilience into a single story of hope.

In a world increasingly defined by division, here is a chance to unite over something universal: the need for shade, clean air, and forests for our children. So, plant a tree. Play a game. And make Miss Rumphius proud.

::My Lovely Planet

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Make America cool again, says Make Sunsets a startup that’s geo-engineering the climate

Karin Kloosterman — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 08:23:32 +0000

Make Sunsets founders

Their ethos? Act now, ask forgiveness later.

Make Sunsets, a geoengineering startup based in South Dakota, continues to attract both controversy and attention as it pushes ahead with its mission to “Make Earth Cool Again”—literally. The company, founded by Andrew Song and Luke Iseman, has been releasing sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere using high-altitude balloons, an experimental (and deeply polarizing) method of solar geoengineering designed to reflect sunlight and reduce global temperatures.

In a recent newsletter from 10 days ago, Make Sunsets revealed that it had responded to inquiries from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), guided by two former EPA lawyers. Their cheeky tone remains unchanged: “Let’s ensure American energy dominance as well as a safe and healthy environment by Making Earth Cool Again,” they wrote.

Make Sunsets founders

Despite the EPA referring to their activities as “unregulated,” the founders are confident the agency doesn’t have a solid legal basis to shut them down. “We predict they’ll stay out of our way,” they wrote. And they aren’t slowing down—this month, they launched five new balloons carrying 5,895 “Cooling Credits” worth of sulfur dioxide to altitudes of 30 km, with two of three payloads successfully recovered.

Critics Say “Wait,” They Say “Why?”

The company’s critics, including many climate scientists, argue that Make Sunsets is moving too fast with a technology whose global impacts are uncertain. Solar geoengineering could potentially reduce global temperatures, but it also poses major ethical, geopolitical, and ecological questions—who decides when and where to deploy it? What are the long-term risks?

“The existence of companies like Make Sunsets is precisely why CCAN supports public-funded research and opposes private money in both solar geoengineering testing and deployment. Research must be held to the highest bar, conducted with full transparency, and developed in a way that explicitly benefits the public good – not corporate profit margins,” says Quentin Scott, Federal Policy Director for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) said.

“CCAN is speaking out in strong opposition to the work of this renegade firm because it is a dangerous distraction from the serious scientific research that needs to be done.

“However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) opposition to Make Sunsets is hypocritical and factually inaccurate. EPA says that Make Sunsets may be adversely impacting air quality, but the truth is that the sulfur dioxide that this company releases is dispersed too high in the atmosphere to impact the air we breathe.

“Additionally, the EPA’s pretense of using the Clean Air Act to threaten Make Sunsets is absurd when the administration is repeatedly attacking that same landmark legislation in the courts, Congress, and public discourse. If the EPA truly stood for the principle of protecting pristine air for all Americans, they would enforce the Clean Air Act provisions that they are Congressionally mandated to enforce instead of making up new ones.”

Make Sunsets, on the other hand, is openly skeptical of the academic establishment. They vented their frustration after attending the recent Degrees Global Forum in South Africa, the largest solar geoengineering gathering to date. Their takeaway: “many get paid to talk, not act,” calling out scientists who “live in a fantasy land” for believing in the feasibility of global net-zero emissions by 2100.

Potential Emergency Climate Tool:
If global warming accelerates to dangerous levels and mitigation efforts fall short, solar geoengineering could serve as a temporary emergency measure. Make Sunsets contributes early real-world data and experimentation that could prove valuable in understanding the viability of such options in the future.

The newsletter was especially pointed in its critique: “Do we really need another study on the potential impact to maize yield in Ecuador? You know what else hurts maize yields? Record-breaking temperatures, continent-sweeping fires, and longest-recorded droughts.”

Their core argument: we’ve run out of time for endless modeling—climate interventions are needed now.

Business Model: Selling “Cooling Credits”

Make Sunsets generates revenue by selling “Cooling Credits”—units purchased by individuals or companies who want to fund solar geoengineering as a form of carbon offset. With a revenue of $9,414 in the last month (May) and expenses (“burn”) of $40,135, they are burning cash but still have a healthy runway of 20 months, supported by a reported cash balance of $969,009.

They’ve recently added a fiscal sponsor, allowing tax-deductible donations to the effort—another controversial move that may signal their intent to operate partly in the nonprofit space.

The company has ambitious plans:

$14K in sales for May

First paid “return-to-home” balloon flight

Signing a client for localized cooling—a move that could mark the beginning of geoengineering-as-a-service

Despite the scientific and regulatory uncertainty, Make Sunsets continues to scale what many consider a rogue climate experiment. Their ethos? Act now, ask forgiveness later.

Whether they represent a radical new frontier in climate action or a reckless gamble remains deeply contested. But one thing is clear—they’re not waiting for permission.

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Carbon Capture in 2025: Technologies, Markets, and Investment Trends

Julie Steinbeck — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 08:33:40 +0000

PHLAIR project Dawn Commercial Direct Air Capture facility Providing >20,000 tCO2/year Alberta, Canada

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) has entered a phase of rapid scale-up in 2025. Driven by national emissions targets, investor pressure, and the emergence of structured carbon markets, this sector is moving from pilot projects into industrial deployment. Global CO2 capture capacity now exceeds 50 million tonnes annually, and it’s expected to triple by 2030. Investment is accelerating in membrane separation, modular capture units, direct air capture (DAC), and nature-integrated CO2 recovery systems.

This article presents a detailed snapshot of the 2025 carbon capture landscape, key companies and technologies, and where the carbon credit market is heading.

Global Technology Leaders and Market Movers

Evonik is scaling its SEPURAN® polymer membranes for CO2 separation in biogas upgrading and industrial emissions. Their focus on decentralized, energy-efficient modules makes them well-suited to sectors like chemicals and food processing.

Air Liquide continues deploying Cryocap™ cryogenic carbon capture at hydrogen and ammonia facilities. In 2025, the company expanded CCUS clusters in Europe and the Middle East to support industrial decarbonization at scale.

Air Products is delivering some of the world’s largest hydrogen production projects with integrated CO2 capture. Its blue hydrogen project in Louisiana captures more than 5 million tonnes of CO2 annually, using proprietary reforming and capture technologies.

UBE Corporation is developing polyimide-based membrane systems for post-combustion capture, with pilot projects in Japanese utilities and Southeast Asian petrochemical plants.

Linde Engineering licenses its RECTISOL® and amine-based technologies for syngas and natural gas CO2 removal. In 2025, Linde delivered several modular capture units to decarbonize refineries and hydrogen valleys across Europe.

Grasys specializes in membrane and pressure swing adsorption (PSA) systems used widely in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The company’s gas purification units are increasingly being adapted for landfill gas and industrial CO2 separation.

Airrane, a Korean membrane manufacturer, is expanding hollow fiber technologies for nitrogen and CO2 separation. Their systems are being adopted across Korea’s chemicals and energy sectors.

Generon IGS offers skid-mounted, plug-and-play CO2 capture units suited to oil & gas and industrial clients in North America. Their membrane and PSA systems are increasingly used for enhanced oil recovery and low-volume emitters.

DMT International delivers turnkey biogas upgrading systems with integrated CO2 recovery. They are now expanding operations into Southeast Asia, targeting landfill and wastewater treatment opportunities.

Membrane Technology & Research (MTR) is piloting “CaptureX” membrane systems on gas-fired and coal plants with support from the U.S. Department of Energy. MTR’s polymer technologies offer reduced energy penalties and simpler installation.

Fujifilm is innovating in membrane and sorbent materials for CO2 separation under high-temperature and corrosive environments. Their collaboration with academic labs is helping to refine long-life membranes for industrial settings.

Toray is commercializing advanced hollow fiber modules for carbon and nitrogen separation. Their CO2 capture products are being piloted in water treatment and desalination plants to lower embedded emissions.

BORSIG is bringing high-efficiency amine systems to market with integrated energy recovery. Their focus is on upgrading legacy power plants and industrial boilers across Germany and Central Europe.

SLB (formerly Schlumberger) is repositioning itself as a carbon management leader. Its CENOS™ line of capture technologies now includes solvent, membrane, and storage integration. SLB has over a dozen active CCUS projects across oil, steel, and cement in 2025.

Sumitomo Chemical is commercializing advanced hybrid sorbents for municipal solid waste and waste-to-energy facilities. Their systems blend chemical absorption with physical separation for higher capture efficiency.

Honeywell continues to expand its UOP Separex™ membrane and Ecofining™ capture systems. In 2025, it launched a carbon capture-as-a-service platform targeting mid-sized industrial firms with bundled hardware, monitoring, and credit integration.

Carbon Markets and Access to Carbon Credits

The voluntary carbon market is consolidating around more rigorous methodologies. Projects using CCUS are now eligible for carbon credits under frameworks from Verra, Gold Standard, and the Puro.earth platform.

Credits from bioenergy with CCS (BECCS) and DAC are in increasing demand, especially by corporations pursuing science-based targets. Marketplaces like Patch and Nori allow businesses and individuals to purchase verified CO2 removals, with real-time tracking and blockchain-based auditing.

Direct air capture projects from firms like Climeworks and Carbon Engineering remain high-cost (above $600/tonne), but prices are expected to fall by more than half as modularity and renewable integration improve.

Outlook: Innovation Needs and Investment Trends

Significant gaps remain in capture cost reduction, especially for low-concentration flue gases and DAC. Key areas of innovation include:

Low-energy solid sorbents and hybrid systems
Waste heat integration and process intensification
Durable membranes resistant to contaminants
Long-term, verifiable CO2 storage options

Governments are supporting deployment with instruments such as the U.S. 45Q tax credit, the EU Innovation Fund, and the UK’s CCUS cluster support. The IEA, Global CCS Institute, and ARPA-E continue to back R&D in electrochemical capture, DAC, and value-chain integration.

By 2028, the global CCUS market is projected to surpass $14 billion. Companies able to deliver scalable technology and tie it directly to revenue from high-integrity carbon credits are best positioned to benefit from the next wave of climate finance and regulation.

Carbon capture technologies are accelerating in 2025, reshaping how industries and investors tackle emissions across the globe.

Read more on Green Prophet:

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Calling all real estate managers, factory operators, hospitals and data centers: This new heat transfer fluid can take 15% off your energy bill

Karin Kloosterman — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 08:23:43 +0000

An HT Materials Science factory

Dublin based HT Materials Science (HTMS) has developed a breakthrough energy savings solution called Maxwell that can slash operating costs, increase system capacity in new and existing builds and offer carbon credits

Water is the universal heat transfer fluid for commercial and industrial HVAC systems. While water is plentiful and cheap there are additives to water which can improve its thermal capacity and that’s the elegant and planet-smart idea from Irish-Italian company HT Materials Science based in Dublin, Ireland.

HTMS has developed a heat transfer fluid branded Maxwell to increase the thermal capacity of water –– allowing it to store up to 20% more energy than water alone. At only a 2% additive to water, Maxwell can provide up to a 20% increase in performance and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in no small way.

HT Materials Science was founded in 2018 to develop a heat transfer fluid for commercial and industrial HVAC markets. Among its investors are Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures, which led a €15M Series A round in 2021, and Barclays Bank, via its Sustainable Impact Capital portfolio.

Maxwell shows how small breakthroughs in science contribute to the advance of meeting renewable energy goals in big ways. The usual payback for clients who install the fluid is approximately 3 years.

Maxwell is non-toxic and non-corrosive with a useful life of about 10 years. Data centers, hospitals, commercial real estate and manufacturing facilities are the company’s main target sectors. Maxwell is applicable to all closed loop HVAC systems generally serviced by chillers, water source heat pumps, energy recovery systems.

Same temperature, less energy: HT Materials co-founder and CEO Thomas Grizzetti

HT Materials Science CEO Tom Grizzetti tells Green Prophet: “There has certainly been development activity in heat transfer fluids over the last decade-plus. However, the combination of product stability, proven performance and client engagement has been elusive.

“With Maxwell, a multi-patented product, we bring to market a solution that was developed to satisfy both the science and the business sides of the equation. These efforts have resulted in a stable product with provable performance and ultimately significant client engagement,” he adds.

Liquid energy in a jug of Maxwell

Maxwell is an engineered suspension of sub-micron aluminum oxide particles in a base fluid of water or water/glycol (that last part is significant since it means Maxwell can be used in systems that use either water or glycol as their base fluid)—resulting in reduced energy use, emissions, maintenance and costs; and an increase in system capacity.

Same temperature, less energy

HT Materials Science manufacturing facilities

Consider that heating and cooling are attributed to almost half of our planet’s energy consumption, and about 40% of carbon dioxide and equivalent carbon emissions.

Among HT Material Science’s first industrial clients is the German based alumina producer Almatis. By installing Maxwell into the plant’s cooling system, HTMS increased the system capacity by up to 20% while increasing operational output.

The company recently earned a Green Product Award for its work at a facility owned by Johnson & Johnson and for its project with Tabreed at a 600,000 square-foot campus in Abu Dhabi. Tabreed provides cooling services for Samsung, UAE malls, and a geothermal system at Masdar.

Working at the HT Materials Science lab

HT Materials Science is on a mission looking to expand throughout the Middle East as countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia develop manufacturing and technology parks to keep production facilities like electric cars close to home.

Maxwell is a pretty neat fluid that will be a game changer for carbon accounting globally.

For more, see HT Materials Science

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Hacks to Make Your Air Conditioner Work Harder

Isabella Hannah — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 04:31:27 +0000

Keeping your home cool during the hot and humid summer months is costly and damaging to the climate because of all the extra energy usage. But with a few strategic hacks to using your current window-based air conditioner, portable air conditioning unit or central air condition system, you can make your air conditioner work more efficiently. And that means more coolness for you and no more choosing your friends based on who has an air conditioner at home. It also means buying less carbon credits if you are doing carbon accounting for your home.

Here are some expert tips to enhance your AC’s performance and ensure a comfortably cool home, office or hang out space. These are from Green Prophet’s experiences we’ve taken from living in New York, Canada, Europe (there is practical no air-con there) and the Middle East and will ensure your air quality stays high too.

Deep clean vents every few years

Dust and grime can accumulate in your central system AC vents and mini-split units over time, slowing airflow and reducing efficiency. Performing a deep clean of your air vents every three to five years is crucial. This maintenance ensures that the maximum amount of cold air is released into your living spaces.

This routine boosts your AC’s performance but also extends its lifespan by preventing it from overworking to push air through clogged ducts. Here is a guide on how to deep clean your air ducts. You can do it at home without paying for an an expensive AC repairman.

If you live in Arizona, or a dusty, desert location with hot temps throughout the year consider a deep clean more regularly.

Replace air filters

In addition to deep cleaning vents periodically, replacing air filters on a regular basis is important for efficient operation. Air filters trap dust, pollen, and other airborne particles, preventing them from entering your air conditioning system. Open them up and if there is a lot of humidity in your region they may also be food of black mould. This mold will fly all over your home, clogging filters and your lungs.

The clogging also makes the unit work harder, giving less output. Ask how to change the air filters when you buy or acquire the unit. Read this guide on how to replace filters.

Pair the air con with fans

Spend-thrift people know that a high energy air con unit can heat a whole floor of a home if ceiling fans or floor fans are turned on. Fans take much less energy and they push the cool air through your home. This cools the room faster and makes it feel cooler by evaporating humidity from your skin. You can use less air and more fan, finding the happy balance at night, saving you money on your power bill.

Invest in window shades

Keeping sunlight out of your home can significantly reduce indoor temperatures. High-quality window shades or blinds can block the sun’s rays, preventing your rooms from heating up during the day. This means that your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard to cool your home.

By minimizing the amount of heat that enters your home, you can create a more comfortable environment and reduce the load on your AC unit. This not only enhances efficiency but also prolongs the life of your air conditioning system.

Keep the doors and windows closed

It might seem intuitive but part of what makes the summer feel hot is the humidity. Air conditioners typically remove the humidity from the air, cooling it in the process. Make sure you teach your kids and family members the importance of keeping windows in the entire house shut when the air conditioner is running or else you are basically pouring electricity down the drain.

Close vents and doors of rooms not in use

If you have a central AC unit, you can but small covers to put on the vents so the cooling stays out of rooms you aren’t using. If there is no-one in the guest bedroom or office, keep the door closed and let the cool air circulate where needed.

Now that you know how to hack your air con so it’s cooler this summer, read these 5 ways to re-use air conditioner AC water.

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