Have you ever purchased carbon credits to cover your air travel? How did you go about choosing the carbon offset service that you used? I keep hearing different versions of whether it's worth it or not. I kind of feel like it's better than doing nothing at all.

I haven't actually participated in a program directly, but I always check out if the travel agency/airline company I fly with are involved in carbon offset programs. Ask before buying your ticket.

I believe that Continental Airlines has a special program called eco-skies.

Hello! I know one good place to seek out carbon offset information is Sustainable Travel International. They have some pretty big names such as Continental Airlines and Whole Foods associated with them. Also some individual hotels and businesses are developing their own ways help offset carbon emissions. I work for Cotton Tree Lodge in Belize, and we have connected with a non-profit named Sustainable Harvest International (unrelated to Sustainable Travel) to find ways to offset the carbon from our guests' flights. Guests can make specific donations to SHI and actually choose which carbon-reducing project their money goes toward-- like planting cacao trees or building wood-conserving stoves. And if they REALLY want to make sure it's a legitimate offset, they can sign up to volunteer with SHI for a day during their trip and plant those trees themselves! Check it out at cottontreelodge.com and feel free to contact me if you have questions.

Check out carbonfund.org