Those moves on the dance floor can result in more than sweat and sore muscles -- they can mean funds to help the environment. Yes, you can now go green by going out to one of your favorite dance spots.
Forest ranger Billy Treese and his group, HoldYourOwn, have partnered with Carbonfund.org -- which has calculated carbon offsets for businesses such as JetBlue, Avis and the Discovery Channel -- to throw BREATHE parties at dance and live music venues in Seattle and use most of that party's proceeds to invest in alternative energy sources to offset that venue's electricity consumption.
The next party is Saturday at Re-bar, with the Uniting Souls DJ crew spinning house music. So dance, drink and live it up -- and come home with a free tiny tree to brighten your holidays, and maybe a free refurbished bike.
"It's breathtaking just living here every day. It's harnessing that vibe already in Seattle," said Treese, 25, who lives in Enumclaw but travels to Seattle three times a week to get his groove on. "Once an outlet for doing something good is provided, it's amazing how people respond. People get to do something without having to pull out their volunteer badge and without having to pull all their money out. Just show up like any other Saturday night."
He created startup collective HoldYourOwn earlier this year with the intention of making Seattle's nightlife greener. He had just ridden his bike on the STP (Seattle to Portland), in which participants could purchase "cool tags" that paid a portion of the race's carbon offset.
It can cost as little as $500 to offset the energy put out by clubs in an entire year, said Ivan Chan, marketing and communications manager with the Silver Spring, Md.,-based Carbonfund.org. But those disco balls spinning, lights flashing, even the cash register -- it all adds up.
"For small businesses that do events to raise funds for offsetting, it's very helpful in terms of their actual impact," Chan said. "Actual direct emissions through activities like driving, travel, use of electricity for an individual tends to average 10 tons of carbon dioxide a year. You can offset that for $100."
The group supports three different types of projects: renewable energy, energy efficiency or reforestation. One such project in California converts methane to renewable energy.
Carbonfund.org also purchases carbon credits on the Chicago Climate Exchange to reward businesses and others who exceed their targeted carbon dioxide reductions.
"We regularly get small businesses and individuals who are interested in offsetting their event -- conferences, charity barbecues, for example," Chan said. "I think the fact that offsetting allows people to reduce what they can and offset the rest of their footprint, and allows them to support those innovative events out there."
Those who come to Re-bar on Saturday also will receive free gear: magnets, bumper stickers and reusable tote bags. Partiers also receive a free sapling tree (one of three species, including a Douglas fir) to take home and a chance to win a free, refurbished bike from BikeWorks.org.
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