Seoul, KOREA ¶ Nov 27, 2011 (Whowired) -- The city of Gwangmyeong announced Friday that 342 apartment households in 2 complexes that participated in emissions trading from July last year to June this year will be given 9 million won as incentives for carbon points. Carbon points are a market-based approach used to control pollution by providing economic incentives for achieving reductions in the emissions of pollutants.

According to city officials, 1,485 households are currently participating in the system. After operating the system from July to June, 161 MWhs of electricity and 70,500 kgs of carbon dioxide were reduced. This amount is equal to planting 25,380 pine trees.

One city official of Gwangmyeong stated that “only reduction of electricity was reflected this year. But the system will be expanded to include usage of water and gas.” He also added that he hoped that “all citizens will participate in emissions trading so that it can later expand into an energy-saving campaign.”

Anyone willing to participate can register online at www.cpoint.or.kr or write up an application and register at city hall.

Henson Seo (press@whowired.com)