Australian company Little Green Genie (LGG) has embarked on a cause to help reduce the emissions created by the world’s billion-plus computers through the introduction of world first computer carbon offset software.

Launched this week by the Hon Kate Jones MP, Queensland Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, the LGG is a program that calculates how much energy is being used by a computer, and then uses this information to buy a proportionate amount of carbon credits to offset this use.

LGG spokesman, Bruce Nelson, says with the manufacture and energy used to run computers creating as big a carbon footprint as the global airline industry, green minded computer users now have an option to offset their PC’s carbon emissions.

“We think the public really feel a sense of duty to help offset carbon emissions, but many feel it can be too much of a hassle to really do anything,” Mr Nelson says.

“The Little Green Genie program is easy to download and calculates the computers emissions from energy use.

“It then automatically purchases carbon credits from Climate Friendly, a founding member of the international carbon reduction and offset alliance, which in turn supports renewable energy equal to the computers energy use.”

For the average computer user this will cost roughly ten dollars a year with the simplicity of the program and its accuracy in calculating the emissions identified as major factors in its potential popularity with personal computer users as well as businesses.

Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones says her Government supports businesses that are making sustainable choices, because reducing our carbon footprint is everyone's responsibility.

"I congratulate Little Green Genie for developing such a simple and effective tool that can make reducing our carbon footprint easier,” Ms Jones says.

Little Green Genie is part of a growing number of social entrepreneur businesses that recognise a social problem and uses entrepreneurial principles to organise, create and manage a venture to make social change.

Enquiry about the program has already been received from over 103 countries including Bangladesh, Slovenia and Lebanon, with subscribers already on board from 39 countries, proving the broad international appeal of carbon offset initiatives.

As computers become more and more crucial to the running of our everyday lives, Mr Nelson sees the LGG as an excellent opportunity to keep the green message in front of people’s faces.

“We’re already seeing other by-products of the initiative such as users reporting that the program is causing them to look at improving their environmental behaviours in other parts of their life,” Mr Nelson says.
For more information or to download the Little Green Genie visit www.littlegreengenie.com