Simple Ways To Green Your Travels

Vacationing can create a large carbon imprint. Right out of the gate, the car, plane and/or train you typically travel in emits greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.  But don’t let eco-guilt interfere with your travel desires.  There are plenty ways you can reduce pollution and waste when you take your next trip.

Take your sustainable practices on the road with you. The best asset you have to being green while you travel is your own creativity. Practice the 4 R’s at home and when you travel:  reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle.

• Prepare your home before you leave. Unplug all your unused appliances, adjust the thermostat to reduce use of AC or heat, and turn-off the hot water heater.
• Green your car travel by accelerating slowly, keeping your tires inflated to the recommended PSI (or slightly above), maintaining a consistent speed at or below the speed limit, reducing your cargo and driving without the AC when possible.
• Stay at an eco-friendly hotel. Research eco-friendly hotels that offer towel reuse programs, encourage recycling, use CFL light bulbs and implement other sustainable practices.
• Treat your hotel room or rental house like you would your own home:  turn off lights when you leave the room, adjust the thermostat to save energy, keep doors and windows shut when you run the AC.  Just because you don’t pay the bill, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t conserve energy.
• Conserve water as you would at home by reducing your use.   Reuse towels and sheets to prevent unnecessary laundry.
• Look for and utilize recycling bins wherever you travel.  Many hotels might not offer recycling in your room, but have bins in the lobby. Ask about recycling at the reception desk and set aside glass, aluminum, paper, and plastic to recycle later.  Most municipalities recycle.
• Use public transportation when you get to your destination.  Locate yourself centrally so you can walk as much as possible.  If you have to use taxis, look for hybrids.
• Eat vegetarian as much as possible - 18% of all greenhouse gases come from livestock.
• Purchase locally grown/made foods and gifts.
• Carry a couple Chico bags with you to use as shopping bags or to carry recyclables until you can deposit them appropriately.
• Bring a reusable fork, spoon and water bottle with you.  Doing this can save you from using a bunch of plastic utensils and cups/bottles.  If you camp or picnic, bring reusable lightweight plates, bowls and cups.  Throw in a few cloth napkins.
• If you compost at home and have access to a freezer during your trip, freeze your food scraps in leftover plastic bags and place them in your empty cooler on the way home.  Compost the scraps at home.
• Don’t feed or bother wildlife. The only place you should interact with indigenous wildlife is at a zoo, or under supervised conditions.  Respect native cultures and historical sites.  Tread lightly.
• Upon your return, offset your carbon footprint by paying for renewable energy to be used for the equivalent of pollution you created on your trip.

Sources: gogreentravelgreen.com, www.independenttraveler.com, www.foxnomad.com