Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How will switching to online statements with Green$ense impact the environment?
A: According to the U.S. Postal Service, in 2006, 19 billion bills - 533 million pounds of paper - were delivered to American households. Think of all the paper and gasoline that could be saved if these statements were delivered electronically.
Q: How will paying bills online with Green$ense impact the environment?
A: Many people may not realize the environmental impact caused by paper checks. This includes producing and transporting paper; printing and delivering boxes of checks to consumers; and taking, clearing, and settling check payments, as well as returning checks to consumers in monthly account statements. Paying bills online would eliminate all of this.
Q: How much impact can my household make by switching to Green$ense?
A: The average household participating in Green$ense and switching to electronic payments and statements can:
- Save 6.6 pounds of paper
- Avoid use of 4.5 gallons of gasoline for mailing bills, statements and payments
- Reduce release wastewater by 63 gallons
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 175 pounds
Q: How do you calculate these figures?
A: The calculation is based on an average American household, which receives 19 bills and statements and makes 7 payments per month, banking electronically.
Source: "The Household Diary Study: Mail Use & Attitudes in FY 2006." United States Postal Service (Washington, DC: March 2007). For more information visit http://www.usps.com/householddiary/welcome.htm
Q: How much does one paper statement or bill cost the environment?
A: Each paper statement or bill results in:
- 0.028 pounds of paper
- 0.009 gallons of gasoline for mailing bills, statements and payments
- 0.27 gallons of waste water
- 0.5 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions
Q: How much does one mailed check payment cost the environment?
A: Each paper payment results in:
- 0.003 pounds of paper
- 0.03 gallons of gasoline for mailing bills, statements and payments
- 0.03 gallons of waste water
- 0.7 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions
Q: What sources did you use to calculate the environmental impact of bills, statements and payments?
A: In this first phase, we used "Pay it Green," an environmental impact assessment completed for the financial industry association . Other primary sources included:
- Environmental impact estimates associated with paper reductions using the Environmental Defense Paper Calculator. For more information, visit http://www.papercalculator.org.
- Greenhouse gas emissions estimates associated with transportation of paper bills and payments using the World Resources Institute (WRI) Mobile Combustion CO2 Emissions Calculation Tool. For more information, visit http://www.ghgprotocol.org/calculation-tools/service-sector.
- Greenhouse gas emissions equivalency estimates using the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator. For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html.
- Statistics defining the number of paper bills, bill payments, and statements mailed in 2006 were provided by: "The Household Diary Study: Mail Use & Attitudes in FY 2006." United States
In the next phase, Charter One will work with Cooler, Inc. to make a more precise impact specific to our operations.
Q: Why are the Green$ense numbers different than the ones on ____?
A: To determine the impact customers using Green$ense will have on the environment, we use industry-standard, state-of-the-art calculations. However, because every bank has different operational procedures, Charter One is working with Cooler Inc., to quantify the global warming impact specific to our operations. This effort will lead to even more precise numbers and a roadmap for greater benefits over time. For more details, contact Cooler’s Chief Scientist, Dan Matross, dan@climatecooler.com.
Q: Carbon footprinting is an inexact science. How can we be sure that Green$ense is having the impact Charter One says it is?
A: We’ve partnered with Cooler, Inc. to ensure we are using the most comprehensive approach to calculating the global warming and environmental benefits of Green$ense. Cooler’s methodology uses the best in peer-reviewed, scientific practice and is further vetted by some of the world’s best known environmental organizations. For more details, see www.climatecooler.com/citizens, or contact Cooler’s Scientific Director, Dan Matross, dan@climatecooler.com.