SFO Finally Installs Carbon Offset Kiosks

by Chris Jones

So, the new carbon offset kiosks at SFO, first reported here last December, have finally been installed at the Airport. The kiosks, operated by local start up, 3Degrees can be found in Terminal 3 and International Terminals A and G. Once past security, sophisticated travelers can saunter up to a kiosk, plug in their destination, and be amazed as the newfangled gadgetry calculates how much carbon dioxide they're pooping out as they jet to and fro. Travelers are then given the option to fork out some cold, hard cash to help pay for reforestation of the 23,780-acre Garcia River Forest up Mendocino way.

The theory is that the new trees planted with the American dollars provided by environmentally aware travelers will help suck up the carbon dioxide they produce by indulging in the bad habit of commercial flight. Added bonus - reforestation helps preserve the Garcia River watershed, protects local salmon and trout stocks, gives spotted owls someplace to land, and keeps local trailer dwellers from being washed out to sea via flash flood come the heavy rains of winter. In addition, a whole $1.50 out of every $1,000 of offsets sold goes to the San Francisco Carbon Fund, which helps fund carbon reduction projects right here in San Francisco. Everyone wins, yay!