My friend Jessica Lipnack got started on carbon-neutral collaboration a while back. The idea is to decrease our carbon footprints by traveling to collaborate only when really necessary, for example, when social/cultural cohesion demands it, or when there may be sensitive negotiations. It makes a lot of sense, even if it goes a bit contrary to what we’ve learned from a number of organizational network analysis projects: when geography limits the ability of people to truly get to know each other so as to know when to collaborate and how to collaborate, nothing beats getting people onto planes. The case study I wrote with Vic Gulas at MWH is a good example.

But once we have made those connections, we can get smart about using technology. It’s just that startup phase that is expense (in $$ and in carbon).

One of my favorite social tools (I wish more of my friends used it!) is DOPPLR. It shows me where my friends are traveling, compares where they go to where I go, and lets me know if we can manage serendipity. The fact is that I do not travel very much, but I like the situational awareness aspect of who is going where. And I like it that it shows me, Dave Snowden, and David Gurteen in Nancy White‘s city at the same time. David has arranged a boat ride!

Now, DOPPLR is adding a carbon calculation feature in partnership with AMEE . Still in Beta, it will calculate for you the carbon cost of your travel. It still needs some tweaks, but it can be a sobering reminder that you might not need to take all those trips…