San Francisco airport begins selling carbon offsets
Three new kiosks with touch screens let travelers passing through SFO airport punch in an itinerary and purchase the appropriate carbon offset—calculated on the spot. These Climate Passport kiosks, the first in a U.S. airport, debuted yesterday and are located after security checkpoints near the entrances to Terminal 3 and international terminals A and G.
The offsets will fund two local projects: Garcia River Forest's planting of redwood and Douglas fir trees in heavily-logged Mendocino County and Dogpatch Biofuels, a bio-diesel fueling station based in San Francisco.
It cost $190,000 in airport funds to implement the kiosks, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, which reported mixed reactions from fliers at SFO.
Would the convenience of these airport kiosks sway you to offset your flight's carbon-dioxide emissions?
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Australia may never be cheaper in our lifetimes
Ever dreamed of visiting Down Under? Australia is a steal for U.S. travelers this fall—for three reasons. • Airfares have plunged because of new competition from low cost carriers. The low prices will last for a while. "International fares will still need some time before any increases take place," Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said this week, "given the heavy discounting and oversupply, particularly on transpacific routes to North America." One of the main competitors is new entrant Virgin Australia. Roundtrip flights between L.A. and Sydney start at $800 per person. • The value of the U.S. dollar against Australia's currency is 11 percent stronger than in July 2008, meaning your buying power is much, much stronger than it is in Europe, Japan, or many other parts of the world. (Today, one U.S. dollar buys about 1.15 AUD.) • The ongoing recession has depressed tourism from Australia's typical visitors, especially Japan. So hotels and tour operators are dishing discounts of about 20 to 30 percent to lure customers, as the New York Times has reported. A case in point: Australia's Northern Territory, 5 Nights, $987: Explore the wilds of the Northern Territory, including a swim in a rock pool, stays at remote cattle bush camps, and guided hikes of about six miles a day. Book by Feb. 10. To find out more about the airfare bargains, we spoke with Rick Seaney co-founder of the clever airline ticket comparison website FareCompare.com… "Prices were in free fall from late fall last year and have been firming up since a bottom in June. The prices in the spring and last fall were the cheapest I have seen in 5 years of closely tracking airfare trends. They have firmed up lately but are still pretty good compared to the past half decade." Good news! New Zealand may be next! "The cost of flights between New Zealand and the U.S. could drop by up to 40 percent after V Australia and Dubai's Emirates announced a trans-Tasman code share agreement yesterday," reports New Zealand's Business Day. MORE Go on sale, dammit! (Why Hawaii's airfares defy gravity) What's new in Sydney? In October, the new month-long Crave Sydney festival debuts, with island-hopping ferry tours and free dance lessons, among other attractions. Should there be a law against 3-hour tarmac delays? (110+ comments)
London: New ceramics gallery at The V&A
The Victoria & Albert Museum re-opens its famous ceramics galleries in a snazzily redesigned space this Friday. It wasn't easy. Imagine how fearful curators were as they put on display more than 3,200 of the world's most breakable artworks. Works by Picasso sit alongside 1,000-year old Ming vases, intricate Delft, and sculptures from ancient Egypt. Curious how cermaics are made? A potter's studio and kiln is available, with classes for interested visitors. In a clever move, there's a walk-through simulation of the studio of Dame Lucie Rie, one of the greatest potters of the past 100 years. Plus, in a snazzy design move, an external glass walkway links the galleries with the rest of the museum. The V&A; is the largest museum of decorative and applied arts in the world. It's within easy walking distance of the Natural History Museum, Harrods, and Hyde Park. Opened in 1909, the galleries used to be on the 6th floor in a musty area. The six redesigned galleries now make much better use of skylights and windows, with sunlight bringing out the best colors in the artworks. Details at the museum's website, www.vam.ac.uk. EARLIER Where to eat and sleep in London? 50+ tips from readers