Dear Co-op America,
I often travel for my job, and I'm worried about the global warming emissions I'm causing. Do you have any advice for how I can offset my travel's impact?
– Traveling Man in New York City

  That's a very thoughtful question. Since you're a frequent traveler, you might consider joining the Better World Club (www.betterworldclub.com 866-304-7540, ), which is a green alternative to AAA. The club provides nationwide roadside assistance, travel insurance, maps and custom trip-planning, car rental and hotel dis-counts, and other travel services while promoting green options. For example, members get free carbon offsets for up to two domestic and one international airline flight per year, discounts on hybrid car rentals, re-ferrals and discounts for green hotels and more.
   But you don't have to be a member to green your travel. The Better World Club also offers its Travel Cool! carbon offsets for anyone who is willing to pay an extra $11 (domestic). You can either book your ticket through the club and ask for the offset cost to be added, or book your ticket on the internet or another travel agency and simply pay Better World for the offset. The money goes to the agency's foundation, which funds locally based carbon dioxide offset projects.

   If your destination has an EV Rental (877-EV-RENTAL, www.evrental.com), you can rent a hybrid or electric car instead of a conventional gas-powered automobile. Or better yet, stay in a location where you can take advantage of public transportation.

   Finally, consider staying at a locally owned hotel or bed and breakfast to keep your dollars in the community you're visiting. Or, patronize a hotel that takes extra care to minimize its environmental impact. You can find such a hotel through the Green Hotels Association (713-789-8889, www.greenhotels.com).

Dear Co-op America,
I'd like to make my own eco-friendly cleaners. Do you know where I can find recipes?
– Jean in Taos, NM

   Of course! Better Basics for the Home (Three Rivers Press, 1999) by Annie Berthold-Bond is full of make-it-yourself recipes for everything from window cleaner and body moisturizer to car polish and wood stain. And Karen Logan's Clean House, Clean Planet (Pocket, 1997) offers recipes for all sorts of household cleaners.

  Logan offers this recipe for a nontoxic, all-purpose cleaner she calls “Alice's Wonder Spray”: Mix two tablespoons of vinegar with one teaspoon of borax in a spray bottle. Fill the rest of the bottle with very hot water (purified or distilled is best). Shake until the borax is dissolved. Then, add one-quarter cup of liquid soap. To scent, add 10-15 drops of an all-natural essential oil (a combination of lavender and lemon works well). Borax, which can be found in the laundry section of your supermarket, is an eye irritant and can be harmful if swallowed, so keep it away from children. One batch of Alice's Wonder Spray should last six months.

Dear Co-op America,
Is there a less-toxic way to unplug a clogged drain?
– Bob in Biloxi

   Fortunately, there is. Pour one cup of washing soda (available in the laundry section of most grocery stores) down your drain, followed by three cups of boiling water. Do this two or three times. If your drain is still clogged, add one cup of vinegar

“Living Green” is brought to you by Co-op America, a national nonprofit that provides green living, purchasing and investing tips and resources. To join Co-op America and get a free copy of the National Green Pages™ directory of green businesses, call (800) 58-GREEN or visit www.coopamerica.org. E-mail Living Green questions to livinggreen@coopamerica.org.