Climate compensation
Carbon offsetting through SOLVATTEN®
The process of boiling to treat and heat water consumes large quantities of fuel, often firewood collected locally. Since the trees are not replanted, the resulting deforestation contributes to climate change.
SOLVATTEN® is a groundbreaking technology that uses solar energy to treat contaminated water for drinking, as well as producing warm water for cooking and hygiene. The SOLVATTEN® technology has been highlighted by WWF Sweden as a climate-solving innovation, on the grounds that it can give millions of people in developing countries access to safe and warm water, while at the same time avoiding deforestation. The potential reduction in carbon emissions by 2020 has been estimated to be 26 million tons a year.
Each SOLVATTEN® unit holds ten litres, and can treat water up to three times a day. This corresponds to a saving of up to two tonnes of carbon emission per household per year, depending on how much water is used and how it was treated previously. Two tonnes corresponds roughly to the emissions from driving an average car for a whole year.
Since use of SOLVATTEN® technology reduces deforestation and the resulting carbon emissions, the purchase, distribution and use of the units can be funded through “carbon finance”.
The SOLVATTEN® projects has a considerable chance to become certified according to Gold Standard, a certification scheme for high quality carbon offset projects that has been developed by 60 NGOs including Greenpeace International and WWF International.
The potential of the technology, with its carbon offset financing mechanism is great, since it is applicable everywhere that unsustainable firewood is used for treating and heating water- in other words, large parts of Africa, Latin America and Asia.
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