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The Real Costs

Michael Mandiberg's The Real Costs "is a Firefox plug-in that inserts emissions data into travel related e-commerce websites.  The first version adds CO2 emissions information to airfare websites such as Orbitz.com, United.com, Delta.com, etc.  Following versions will work with car directions, car rental, and shipping websites. Think of it like the nutritional information labeling on the back of food... except for emissions."

I've already used the plugin and learned that, as much as I hate to say it, driving a car can be good*. Only because plane flights release such enormous amounts of carbon. Ok, lesson learned: flying is bad.  But this is where The Real Costs gets complicated.  The inherent short-term problem is that the flight will likely leave whether you buy a ticket or not.  Taking a train or bus on a long trip, while environmentally a better choice, can be just as expensive as a plane (or more) - thanks to government subsidies to the airline industry and cutting funding for rail.  Not to mention the US's lack of a high speed rail system.  Argh, what to do?  Ultimately that difficult choice is for each of us to make. What The Real Costs can do is give a larger picture of how inefficient flying is.  Maybe enough New Yorkers will stop flying to Boston, or California residents will understand the urgency of a LA-SF high speed rail line.  The first step towards change is understanding that there is a problem.  I know I didn't understand just how inefficient plane flight was until faced with the numbers in my browser.

*for long trips.  For short trips, you can ride your bike and take public transit.