by Jenny Sherman

Trying to go green can quickly begin to feel like another chore you don’t have time for, especially since it’s not clear what would make the greatest difference. That’s the rationale behind Climateculture.com (launching this month), which incorporates the best elements of carbon calculators, eco-product reviews, and community forums to make reducing your environmental impact fun. “It’s a game, really,” says Climate Culture founder Tom Scaramellino, “an interactive, collaborative way to reduce your carbon footprint.” As with other calculators, you plug in your electric bill, yearly flights, and eating habits, and it spits out your footprint. But Climate Culture takes it to the next level: Think Sim City, but with the development on a virtual island world that reflects decisions you make in real life. Many of the cool bells and whistles weren’t yet complete when I test-drove the rough beta version, but once the site launches, my eco-friendly habits — using a fan and eating a veggie-heavy diet — will be rewarded with an island stocked with everything from lush vegetation and wind turbines to a wave-hopping catamaran. Or, if you’re a gluttonous consumer, an arid isle shrouded in smog.

This article originally appeared in the October 2008 issue of Men’s Journal.