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Green Insurance

Fitness-Sport_Health-Wellness_YogaFor consumers and business owners committed to “going green”, a wide range of insurance options are now available. Below is a breakdown of some of the innovative, eco-friendly products, services and discounts offered by many insurers.

Vehicles

  • Hybrid discounts. Some auto insurance companies offer premium discounts of up to 10 percent for those who drive hybrid vehicles. A similar discount may also apply to hybrid-electric boats and yachts. Some auto policies have the option of adding an endorsement to upgrade to a similar model hybrid vehicle after a total loss.
  • Alternative fuel discounts. If your car uses an alternative energy source, such as biodiesel, electricity, natural gas, hydrogen or ethanol, you could be eligible for a discount on your premium.
  • Pay as You Drive (PAYD) programs. Several insurers offer PAYD programs, in which a device or sensor in the car tracks miles driven, as well as speed. Depending on the program, different techniques are used to collect the information; some take odometer readings, others may use GPS systems. The information is then used to reward policyholders who drive fewer miles than the average driver by providing them with discounts. According to some estimates PAYD subscribers may decrease their miles driven by 10 percent or more, saving consumers money while reducing accidents, congestion and air pollution.

Homes

Insurers are helping to promote sustainable building practices by offering green homeowners and commercial property policies, including:
  • Premium discounts for those whose homes meet stringent efficiency and sustainability standards, e.g., LEED certified homes (LEED is short for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council and is a recognized environmental standard in the building world).
  • Homeowners coverage that replaces/rebuilds after a loss with more eco-friendly materials is often offered as an endorsement to a standard homeowners policy. Some companies will pay homeowners extra if they replace old kilowatt-hungry appliances with Energy-Star devices and recycle debris rather than send destroyed materials straight to a landfill. (The Energy-Star label means the appliances meet an energy-savings rating created by a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.)
  • For homeowners who generate their own geothermal, solar or wind power and sell any surplus energy back to the local power grid, there are now policies that cover both the income lost when there is a power outage caused by a covered peril and the extra expense to the homeowner of temporarily buying electricity from another source. Policies generally cover the cost of getting back online, such as utility charges for inspection and reconnection.

Businesses

Green commercial property insurance policies and endorsements—some of which are directed at specific segments of the business community such as manufacturers—allow building owners to replace standard systems and materials with green ones, such as energy efficient electrical equipment and interior lighting, water conserving plumbing and nontoxic and low odor paints and carpeting, after a loss. In the event of a total loss, the policy will often cover the cost of rebuilding as a green certified building. This coverage may also pay for engineering inspections of heating, ventilation, air-conditioning systems, building recertification fees, replacement of vegetative or plant covered roofs and debris recycling. Some cover the income lost and costs incurred when alternative energy generating equipment is damaged.

 

Source: Insurance Information Institute, “Green Insurance” www.iii.org website. Accessed November 24, 2015. http://www.iii.org/article/green-insurance

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

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IN: Tips For Going Green & Saving Green

Dear Valued Customer,

In this issue of the “—————-“ we focus on the many benefits of going green at home and at work.

Major insurers have launched “green” insurance programs, offering discounts to consumers and business owners committed to “going green,” with a wide range of insurance options covering vehicles, homes, business.

Read on to learn how to make greener product choices, the science behind the climate change that affects our weather, oceans, snow, ice, ecosystems, and society, and more.

We appreciate your continued business and look forward to serving you.

Kind regards,

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Tips For Going Green

Going Green- Be a Green Consumer

“Going Green” means practicing an environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible lifestyle as well as making decisions to help protect the environment and sustain natural resources. There are lots of reasons to consider going green—too much trash, greenhouse gases, air and water pollution, damage to the ozone layer, and saving money. For example, switching all the light bulbs in a home from conventional incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs could save about $40 over the life of the bulb. Other examples include:

  • Turning your thermostat down two degrees in winter and up two degrees in summer.
  • Making sure your walls and ceilings are well insulated.
  • Replacing bathroom and kitchen faucets with low-flow models.

Make Greener Product Choices

Buying only what you need is the first step to go green, but when you buy, looking for greener products and using products in ways that respect the environment can have a big impact — on the health of your family, pets and the planet.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a green products web portal to help you navigate the complex world of green products. You can use this portal to find links and information related to greener products from EPA and other sources.

The EPA has a number of eco-labeling partnership programs to help you identify greener, safer, and more efficient products. The standards behind these labels are based on scientific expertise and use the best available data. Look for these EPA program labels when buying:

  • EnergyStar – for energy efficient electronics and appliances
  • WaterSense – water efficient products
  • Design for the Environment (DfE) – safer household cleaners and other products. DfE allows products that have been determined to be safer for human health and the environment and effective to carry the DfE label.
  • SmartWay Certified Vehicle – cleaner, more fuel efficient cars and trucks

By making greener product choices you are saving money on utilities and fuel, supporting companies that are driving change and most importantly — you are joining millions of people helping to protect public health and the environment.

You can also choose to buy organic or locally produced food and eco-friendly clothing. For more information about national standards covering organic food, contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service. There are no national standards for organic clothing, but some fabrics to consider include organic cotton, bark cloth, bamboo, and organic wool.

Beware: Verify Green Marketing Claims

The number of eco-label products,  claiming that they are “eco-friendly” or “all-natural”, has increased due to a growing demand for “green products. While this is a positive trend, you may have concerns about “greenwashing” and uncertainty about which environmental standards and labels can be trusted. The Federal Trade Commission’s Green Guides provide guidance for companies that make marketing claims regarding the environmental attributes of their products. Here are some tips to help you sort through eco-label marketing:

  • Look for specific (ex. “contains 75% post-consumer recycled materials”) rather than vague statements about environmental impact.
  • Determine whether the green marketing claims apply to the packaging, the product, or both.
  • Beware of fake third-party certification. Visit Consumer Reports’ website to find reliable environmental labels.

For more information about environmental advertising, contact the FTC.

Reusing and Recycling

Along with buying greener products, you can make a big impact by using the products you buy in ways that respect the environment by: using fewer products and following instructions for product use; conserving energy, water, and materials; recycling items made of materials such as glass, metal, plastic, or paper or disposing of products properly.

Many utility companies now offer curbside recycling programs that provide U.S. households with a responsible and convenient way to recycle materials. To locate information on recycling services and efforts in your area, call the Earth 911 toll free hotline, 1-800-CLEANUP (253-2687).

It is easy to safely dispose of many products. Others, such as car batteries, cell phones, televisions, paints, oils, and solvents, require special handling. You can responsibly dispose of these products through your local household hazardous wasters (HHW) collection facility or at your local government’s annual HHW collection day. Some items may be given to charitable organizations or even dropped off at electronics retailers. Contact the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help you make the right decisions about the best way to dispose of waste.

Source: USA.gov, “Tips for Going Green” http://www.usa.gov website. Accessed November 17, 2015. http://www.usa.gov/topics/environment-agriculture/going-green-tips.shtml

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

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Climate Change Science Overview

Earth’s climate is changing in ways that affect our weather, oceans, snow, ice, ecosystems, and society.

Natural causes alone cannot explain all of these changes. Human activities are contributing to climate change, primarily by releasing billions of tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other heat-trapping gases, known as greenhouse gases, into the atmosphere every year. [1]

Climate changes will continue into the future. The more greehouse gases we emit, the larger future climate changes will be.

Photo of cars on a highwayPhotograph of clear-cut forest with standing trees in the distance.Photograph of smokestacks and power lines.

Human activities, like driving, manufacturing, electricity generation, and the clearing of forests contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and warm the planet.
Sources: EPA 2010, EPA 2011, USGCRP 2008

Changes in the climate system affect our health, environment, and economy. We can prepare for some of the impacts of climate change to reduce their effects on our well-being.

Earth’s climate is changing

The global average temperature increased by more than 1.3°F over the last century.[2] The average temperature in the Arctic rose by almost twice as much. [2] The buildup of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere and the warming of the planet are responsible for other changes, such as:

Learn more about the indicators of climate change.

Temperatures across the world in the 1880s (left) and the 1980s (right)

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These maps show temperatures across the world in the 1880s (left) and the 1980s (right), as compared to average temperatures from 1951 to 1980. This difference from average is called an anomaly. The map on the left shows that it was colder in the 1880’s in most places. The map on the right shows it was warmer in the 1980s in most places. Earth’s average surface temperature has increased almost 1.5°F during the 20th century. Two-thirds of the warming has occurred since 1975, at a rate of roughly 0.3°F-0.4°F per decade.
Source: NASA

Climate Change versus Global Warmning

Click on the image to open a pop-up that explains the differences between climate change and global warming.

The CO2 that humans have added to the atmosphere has caused an increase in the atmospheric concentration of CO2. The graph shown here, called a Keeling Curve after the scientist who first developed it, represents the record of increased global atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration.

Click on the image to open a pop-up that shows a larger version of this image, plus text that explains the differences between weather and climate.

Natural causes alone cannot explain recent changes

Line graph with a line that show the observed temperature increases, a blue band that show how the temperature would have changed over the past century due to only natural forces, and a red band that shows the combined effects of natual and human forces. The blue band that shows natural forces starts and ends the 20th century just above 56 degrees Fahrenheit. The actual observed global average temperatures closely follows the model projections that use both human and natural forces - beginning in 1900 at just above 56 degrees Fahrenheit and ending in 2000 around 58 degrees Fahrenheit.

View enlarged image
Models that account only for the effects of natural processes are not able to explain the warming over the past century. Models that also account for the greenhouse gases emitted by humans are able to explain this warming.
Source: USGRCP 2009

Line graph with three trend lines that represent concentration of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide over time. The three gasses follow a very similar pattern that starts low and is steady from year zero until sometime around 1900 where the concentration of all three gasses start increasing dramatically. In the first 1900 years carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide remain at levels around 280 parts per million and 250 parts per billion, respectively. By 2000, carbon dioxide measures around 380 parts per million and nitrous oxide measures around 320 parts per billion. Similarly methane remains at approximately 700 parts per billion until around 1800. By 2000, methane concentrations measure close to 2000 parts per billion.

View enlarged image
This graph shows the increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere over the last 2,000 years. Increases in concentrations of these gases since 1750 are due to human activities in the industrial era. Concentration units are parts per million (ppm) or parts per billion (ppb), indicating the number of molecules of the greenhouse gas per million or billion molecules of air.
Source: USGCRP 2009

Natural processes such as changes in the sun’s energy, shifts in ocean currents, and others affect Earth’s climate. However, they do not explain the warming that we have observed over the last half-century. [1]

Human causes can explain these changes

Most of the warming of the past half century has been caused by human emissions of greenhouse gases. [1] Greenhouse gases come from a variety of human activities, including: burning fossil fuels for heat and energy, clearing forests, fertilizing crops, storing waste in landfills, raising livestock, and producing some kinds of industrial products.

Greenhouse gas emissions are not the only way that people can change the climate. Activities such as agriculture or road construction can change the reflectivity of Earth’s surface, leading to local warming or cooling. This effect is observed in urban centers, which are often warmerthan surrounding, less populated areas. Emissions of small particles, known as aerosols, into the air can also lead to reflection or absorption of the sun’s energy.

Learn more about past and present climate trends and their causes.

Climate will continue to change unless we reduce our emissions

During the 21st century, global warming is projected to continue and climate changes are likely to intensify. Scientists have used climate models to project different aspects of future climate, including temperature, precipitation, snow and ice, ocean level, and ocean acidity. Depending on future emissions of greenhouse gases and how the climate responds, average global temperatures are projected to increase worldwide by 2°F to 11.5°F by 2100. [1] Learn more about the projections of future climate change.

Climate change impacts our health, environment, and economy

Climate change affects our environment and natural resources, and impacts our way of life in many ways. For example:

  • Warmer temperatures increase the frequency, intensity, and duration of heat waves, which can pose health risks, particularly for young children and the elderly.
  • Rising sea levels threaten coastal communities and ecosystems.
  • Changes in the patterns and amount of rainfall, as well as changes in the timing and amount of stream flow, can affect water supplies and water quality and the production of hydroelectricity.
  • Changing ecosystems influence geographic ranges of many plant and animal species and the timing of their lifecycle events, such as migration and reproduction.
  • Increases in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as heat waves, droughts, and floods, can increase losses to property, cause costly disruptions to society, and reduce the availability and affordability of insurance.

We can prepare for some of the likely climate change impacts to reduce their effect on ecosystem and human well-being. Making such preparations is known as adaptation. Examples of adaptation include strengthening water conservation programs, upgrading stormwater systems, developing early warning systems for extreme heat events, and preparing for stronger storms through better emergency preparation and response strategies.

Learn more about how climate change impacts are expected to affect different U.S. regions and sectors and how we can prepare.

Temperature increases and other climate changes may directly impact our food and water supply, ecosystems, coasts, and human health. The bars in the bottom box indicate what temperatures and impacts are expected under the high and low emissions scenarios, which are determined by our actions.

This slideshow describes some of the projected climate change impacts to key sectors, among other topics. Click the image above to play the slideshow.

References:

[1] NRC (2010). Advancing the Science of Climate Change Exit EPA Disclaimer . National Research Council. The National Academies Press, Washington, DC, USA.

[2] IPCC (2007). Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report Exit EPA Disclaimer . Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Pachauri, R.K. and A. Reisinger (eds.)]. Geneva, Switzerland.

[3] IPCC (2012) Exit EPA Disclaimer . Summary for Policymakersin: Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation [Field, C.B., V. Barros, T.F. Stocker, D. Qin, D.J. Dokken, K.L. Ebi, M.D. Mastrandrea, K.J. Mach, G.-K. Plattner, S.K. Allen, M. Tignor and P.M. Midgley (eds.)]. A Special Report of Working Groups I and II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA.

[4] Le Treut, H., R. Somerville, U. Cubasch, Y. Ding, C. Mauritzen, A. Mokssit, T. Peterson and M. Prather (2007). Historical Overview of Climate Change Science. In: Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis Exit EPA Disclaimer .Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change[Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M. Tignor and H.L. Miller (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA.

Basic InformationGreenhouse Gas EmissionsScienceWhat EPA is Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency, “Climate Change Science Overview” http://www.epa.gov website. Accessed November 24, 2015. http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/overview.html

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.