Real Costs is a powerful internet browser plugin that calculates the CO2 emissions of a would-be traveler’s proposed journey. The plug in works with Firefox and will automatically insert emissions data when you visit an airline booking page. So, for example, when you look into flights on Expedia.com, Real Costs will show the per person CO2 emissions of the flight and will offer comparative data if you were to make that same trip by car, bus, or train.
Real Costs also displays the amount of “tree years” it would take to offset the travel and has links to various carbon offset packages.
By bringing this information to the forefront of any travel page, it’s hard to feign ignorance about the effects of transportation choices. The current incarnation of Real Costs looks like a great tool for air travelers looking to lighten their load. Future editions of the Real Costs plugin will also work with mapping software (mapquest, google maps, et al), shipping sites, and car rental pages.
As Real Costs says, “Think of it like the nutritional information labeling on the back of food… except for emissions.”
Visit the Real Costs wiki for a list of currently compatible sites and more information about the inner workings of the emissions calculations
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Did they factor in the size of the city into their equation and if not, why not? Boston is known as the walking city and deservedly so as it’s relatively easy to walk across the city. I pretty much bike or walk to everywhere I need to get to in this city and have pretty much no need for a car or public transportation…though the winters are tough…
Bulls eye on Jacksonville FL.
It is such a pain to get around here. The bicycling infrastructure is almost non-existent. Lack of funds should not be a shock as there is barely enough for education and police. The newer roads are getting bike lanes but the vastness of Jacksonville and the abundance of strip malls demand bicycling highways. The best main roads to go around town (Southside Blvd, JT Butler and Atlantic) are the most bicycle unfriendly.
The topography is so flat here that it should be the perfect city of bicycling. Winters are not that cruel either.
I so want to be able to live car-free but a car is such a necessity here. Working on it though!!
San Fran over NY, what the hell? I guess touristy trolleys and huge hills beat a 24 hour subway system that is unmatched in the country.
Here is an article about the state of Jacksonville’s bicycling infrastructure
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/062808/met_296826813.shtml
Hmm I don’t see Phoenix on there anywhere. I would of guessed that it would of been in the top 10 worse since the city is so spread out. It is really difficult to walk places unless you live in a crowded area.
Well, I’m told that South Carolina has the lowest gas prices in the East Coast….Ha!
I paid about $140. dollars last week just going back and forth to work!
No… gas prices are high. If gas prices were crazy, you’d need to bring things in like fourteen bottlecaps, an indian dream catcher, and a rubber chicken to pay for gas.
At least money is easy to get… you don’t have to go questing for things like a can of white baked beans.
yesssssssss its about 3.70 a gallon here in texas, and i heard its gonna go up to 5$ during this summer!!!! and my uncle has to fill up his truck every 3 days, and it costs him 85 bucks!!! crazy huh??!
Yes they are crazy.
But when I’m spending all my money on filling up my car I think of the environment and how everyone is now making an effort not to drive everywhere because they have to! Very cool.
Here in New Zealand unleaded petrol is over $2 – it was $1.30 about 10 months ago!
YEAH THEY ARE IT COSTS ME 60 DOLLARS A WEEK TO DRIVE BACK IN FORTH TO WORK IN STUFF IT RIDICULOUS