Durangoans can now take a simple step to lighten their carbon footprint. CarbonZERO, a Durango-based company that works to neutralize the impact of greenhouse gases, balances carbon by creating local programs to trap or decrease emissions.

Residents can purchase CarbonZERO offset cards at Maria’s Bookshop, Durango Natural Foods, Nature’s Oasis and Inferno Snowboards. A $29 card off-sets emissions from a small car for one year; the $39 card off-sets a mid-sized car; and a $59 card off-sets a large car for a year.

CarbonZERO neutralizes the carbon by taking the following steps within La Plata County:

• Working in conjunction with local land owners to plants trees to act as a

“carbon sink.”

• Helping to subsidize the additional costs associated with purchasing green power from La Plata Electric Association (LPEA). Each green energy power block purchased by CarbonZERO or local residents prevents .1 ton of carbon from being released into the atmosphere.

• Replacing incandescent bulbs with compact florescent light bulbs in numerous locations in the Durango area.

• As a last resort, purchasing credits on the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), a voluntary North American greenhouse gas emission allowance trading system.

More information on the local program can be found at: www.carbonzerocolorado.com.