The TerraPass

I've discovered a good way to feel better about driving.

I drive a 2004 Hyundai Elantra, manual transmission, and put about 8,000 miles per year on it. Most of that is in and around Tacoma, but it includes a few trips to Oregon, Seattle, and the east side of the Cascades. Although clearly it's not as many miles as many drivers, especially commuters.

Even so, I checked up on my car and mileage on TerraPass.com. According to them, with my driving habits and that make of car I am putting out 5,224 lbs of CO2 into the atmosphere. That's probably close to the weight of my car or slightly more.

Here's what makes the website so cool, though. I purchased a TerraPass for $29.95 that will offset 6,000 lbs of CO2 for the next year of driving by investing that money in wind energy or industrial efficiency.

As a model for a non-profit and environment change it's pretty great. I can pay to level out my car emissions so that my car has a zero sum effect. Sure I'm not exactly helping the environment, but I'm not exactly hurting it anymore either.

Soon I will get a decal in the mail that I can put on my car to advertise how I am assuaging my guilt over polluting. I hope I will see more around Tacoma. Relieve your guilty conscience and buy a TerraPass!