Going Green: Save the World and Save Money  (April 2009) Travel Green: Circle the Globe, Save the Planet  (April 2009) Calculate Your Carbon Footprint

A carbon offset is a certificate representing the reduction of one metric ton (2,205 pounds) of carbon dioxide emissions. Your purchase of a carbon offset supports three types of projects: clean energy produced by wind power; farm power, such as dairy farm methane digesters; and landfill methane capture. A one-way flight from New York to Buenos Aires, Argentina, for example, emits approximately 2,060 pounds of carbon dioxide and would cost $17.85 to offset. (Many airlines offer passengers an opportunity to make their flights “carbon-neutral” by selling—usually for around a few dollars per 1,000 miles flown—carbon offsets to pay for planting trees and other programs to compensate for the damage their flying does to the ozone.)

Carbonfund.org offers practical advice on how to participate in carbon offset programs.

TerraPass.com offers carbon offsets.

For the pros and cons of carbon offset, check out
Allianz Knowledge: “Pay as You Go: The Pros and Cons of Carbon Offsets," GreenMuze: “Carbon Offsetting: Pros & Cons," and NPR: “Carbon Offsets: Government Warns of Fraud Risk.”