Companies are springing up to help businesses, groups and individuals become carbon neutral.

Carbon neutral means that you offset the greenhouse gases you produce.

They help you calculate the amount of climate-changing gasses you produce through your lifestyle. Then they suggest ways you can repay the earth for the carbon you burn, canceling your carbon footprint by buying offsets that will be invested in earth-friendly projects — alternative energy, forest planting or planning environmentally friendly events such as weddings.

U.S. News and World Report did a story recently, “A Consumer’s Guide to Becoming Carbon Neutral,” describing the carbon neutral movement. In the U.S., it’s a voluntary movement that emulates the European Union’s carbon emissions trading system.

The magazine says:

“Websites sell offsets that range from $5 to $25 per ton of carbon, with an average of about $10. Most Americans can cancel out their personal carbon footprints for about $100 a year. You may want to think twice about some of the lower-priced credits; in many cases, your donation will go to existing wind farms or forests. Projects that would have happened with or without your help are not “additional,” in carbon neutral lingo, and so are of questionable value as an offset.”

Of course, like all things, it’s buyer beware.

“Just as when considering a charitable donation, consumers should ask what percentage of an organization’s funding goes into overhead expenses and what fraction is spent on actual projects. (Some of these do-good donations claim to be tax-deductible and some do not; don’t brave this thicket without a tax adviser.)”

There are links in the story to other groups involved in the carbon neutral movement. Here’s one with tips on how you can become carbon neutral and save money.

10 Cool Climate-Saving Actions