TerraPass

Whether you own a hybrid, SUV, or station wagon, you're still operating an energy technology that is aging, inefficient, and environmentally problematic. Unfortunately, we're stuck with this technology for a while longer. What if in the meantime to a better solution you could balance out that inefficiency? That's the idea behind TerraPass (http://www.terrapass.com).

Brainchild of Dr. Karl Ulrich at the University of Pennsylvania and his students, their website is simple. You start by entering your make and model, your emmissions are calculated, and you're recommended an equivalent "TerraPass" good for one year. Behind the scenes, your money is essentially pooled together with other TerraPass owners, and this money is used by their organization to purchase contracts for energy efficient technologies (wind power, biomass, etc). They've essentially, and brilliantly, condensed the complexities of buying efficient energy contracts into something that's applicable to mere mortals.

Once in a while something comes across your plate and it just "makes sense". For me, this is definitely one of them. Thanks to my brother for bringing this my attention!