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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