For the compensation, 203 tons of CO₂ equivalents were ultimately considered relevant and recognized as the final result. Budget-wise, 1% of the funding amount was allocated for compensation, totaling €2,900—an amount insufficient for purchasing certificates from a reputable project.

Even before the PCF figures were available, we began exploring the topic of compensation. Since we are highly critical of neutralizing emissions through certificates and believe that this should not be the approach for a cultural institution, we wanted to gather comprehensive information in advance.

We contacted compensation expert Jutta Kill, who confirmed our stance in a detailed discussion. She did not recommend any compensation projects, as the sale of certificates is often linked to greenwashing and many projects are exploited for fraudulent schemes. She also shared our view that cultural institutions should focus on their strengths—informing society, encouraging reflection, and ideally inspiring climate action.

However, as the funding guidelines of the German Federal Cultural Foundation require compensation through certificates, we decided to seek an appropriate compensation project. The Gold Standard was specified to prevent certificates from being sold multiple times or projects from being counted repeatedly for emission offsetting. The retirement of the certificates after purchase is a crucial requirement in this process.

We decided to support the project "Cookstoves in Bangladesh" by the company Knauber ProKlima and compensate our 203 tons of CO₂e at a rate of €21 per ton.

Knauber describes the project as follows:

"In many developing countries, it is common to cook over an open fire or in clay stoves. These methods use firewood inefficiently, leading to accelerated deforestation and high energy loss. To ensure a more sustainable use of existing firewood supplies, the project supports the provision of efficient cookstoves in Bangladesh. Through this initiative, around 367,000 tons of CO₂e are avoided annually. As part of the project, 100,000 cookstoves are distributed, which residents in Bangladesh can purchase for approximately $2. For displaced Rohingya refugees, the stoves are provided free of charge. The revenues generated from sales are reinvested into education and culture in the region (e.g., sewing, computer skills, and music). Beyond the ecological benefits, the project offers various social opportunities. The efficient cookstoves save 3-4 hours per day, as less wood needs to be collected and cooking times are reduced. This extra time can be used for educational purposes. To ensure smooth operation, individuals are trained to teach others how to use the cookstoves effectively. Through local production and distribution, 100 jobs have been created. A clean cookstove has a lifespan of eight years and effectively reduces the total emission by 2 tons."

The cookstoves consist of an insulated metal combustion chamber surrounded by an outer casting made of stainless steel. They are designed to enhance heat transfer and improve efficiency by optimizing the dimensions of the combustion chamber, ensuring proper insulation between the inner and outer casing, and providing a grate to facilitate effective airflow. The insulation is achieved through layers of mineral wool placed in the space between the outer metal casing and the combustion chamber.

Results

New Aesthetics with Minimal Climate Impact: Part 7 – CO₂ Compensation

New Aesthetics with Minimal Climate Impact: Part 6 – Product Carbon Footprint