The Basics: Title: Carbonfund.org Author: Carbonfund.org Foundation URL: www.carbonfund.org Date: Copyright 2003-2007 Notes: At a Glance: This Silver Spring, Md.-based foundation is a prime example of the numerous organizations that have sprung up in recent years to address the issue of carbon off-set. Carbonfund.org partners with Orbitz.com, which gives travelers the option to off-set the carbon emissions caused by travel purchased on the site. Travelers can add a few extra dollars to their tab and choose how Carbonfund.org will spend that money, whether on renewable energy, reforestation or energy- efficiency projects. Best for: Environmentally conscious travelers who don't want to curb their explorations but do want to minimize their impact. Standout Features: The website clearly elucidates the issue of carbon off-set, which can be complicated to explain in plain English. The carbon calculator employs averages and statistics from the US Department of Energy’s Energy Information Agency to estimate the impact of an individual's particular actions. For example, click on the plane logo, choose the estimated round-trip mileage for your vacation and it'll tell you how much of a donation is needed to off-set the carbon dioxide that that trip will produce. Keep in Mind: The Environmental Resources Trust audits the projects funded by Carbonfund.org, which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Carbonfund.org is an excellent example of how the carbon off-set world works with the travel industry; similar organizations include Terrapass, which partners with Expedia.com, and the Conservation Fund, which partners with Travelocity.com.

How do carbon off-sets work? As Jeff Hayward of the Rainforest Alliance Climate Initiative explained in an online chat, "Carbon offsets give you the opportunity to neutralize some of the greenhouse gas emissions --and fight global warming --when you fly. An offset means that somewhere else in the world there has been a reduction in emissions of greenhouses gases, thus 'offsetting' the contribution caused by the flight.

"This offset is made possibly by the funding from your payment, which is a used to finance projects that either reduce emissions directly or sequester carbon, such as that stored in trees. The amount you pay is dependent on the distance and means of travel, which can be calculated in terms of metric tons of CO2. The reason this works is because greenhouse gases combine in the earth's atmosphere and travel quickly --so your offset is still important, even if you're flying New York to Beijing, while the offset you purchased goes to reforestation with native trees near communities in Nicaragua."

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