MENLO PARK, Calif. — A partnership announced today between Sam's Club, Kärcher USA, and TerraPass aims to include for the first time the cost of offsetting carbon emissions with the purchase of a retail product.

The companies revealed plans to balance out an estimated two years of greenhouse gas emissions from use of the Karcher G 3025 BH pressure washer and encourage purchasers to use the pressure washer for climate change fighting projects around the home.

Balancing carbon emissions involves calculating the global warming emissions from an activity and then balancing them out by reducing emissions elsewhere. TerraPass purchases support emissions reductions through domestic wind farms, "cow-power" projects, and energy efficiency projects.

Industry research shows pressure washers are already an environmentally friendly product, because they use less water than traditional hoses. They also are crucial for energy savings projects like cleaning heat pump coils. But they also run on gasoline and emit carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas responsible for global warming.

"Providing our members with tools or other merchandise for their homes or businesses that deliver an environmental benefit is exciting. We are pleased to be offering this product at Sam's Club nationwide," said Jason Kidd, Merchandise Manager, Hardware and Automotive, Sam's Club.

Part of the purchase price of the G 3025 BH will fund clean energy and efficiency projects that reduce carbon dioxide emissions. These reductions balance out the 285 lbs of greenhouse gas pollution that a pressure washer emits over two years of typical usage. The partnership also aims to educate the home improvement audience on how they can help fight climate change with their weekend projects. The carbon balanced pressure washer comes with a guide to ten home improvement projects that weekend home improvement enthusiasts can tackle to improve energy efficiency in their own homes. Half of the projects use the pressure washer.

"This is an innovative project," said Tom Arnold, TerraPass' Chief Environmental Officer (CEO). "Many everyday Americans are concerned about global warming and looking for solutions. The Kärcher pressure washer lets them support American clean energy and get started fighting climate change at home."