Confused about what you can do to go green while globetrotting? Here's our top ten tips for sustainable travel. It's all about conserving precious resources, reducing the impact of your trip, and benefitting the community you visit.
1) Offset your carbon impact: Flying one-way from New York to London emits an average of 1.5 tons of CO2 emissions. That’s like leaving your hair dryer on for 14 weeks! Use a carbon calculator and offset your flight, hotel stay, car rental, and more.
2) Fly non-stop: Waffling between saving a little money and splurging on a non-stop flight? Treat yourself to the better option and help Mother Earth too. Non-stop flights reduce your emissions by up to 50%.
3) Green hotels: There are many shades of green in the hotel industry, so it’s important to find a hotel directory you trust. To be included in Travelocity’s Green Directory, hotels must be certified by one of the top organizations (LEED, EnergyStar) whose criteria closely aligns with the United Nations’ Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria.
4) Bring your own water bottle: If you’re traveling domestically or to a country with safe drinking water, pack a light-weight metal thermos. Plastic water bottles don’t break down in landfills.
5) Rent the right car: Rent a hybrid or compact car for your trip. While you might pay a premium for this option, you’re sure to save on gas and cut your emissions.
6) Think local: Visit a local handicrafts market for souvenirs, dine at locally owned restaurants, and volunteer in the area. Not only do these goods and services have small footprints, you’re benefitting your host community.
7) Leave no trace: Whether you’re camping in a national park or visiting a cosmopolitan city, make sure your trash ends up in the right place. And use recycling and composting facilities where available.
8) Conserve resources: Don’t be lax on vacation. Turn off the lights, the TV, and the air conditioner when you leave your hotel room. Take short showers. Take part in the hotel’s efforts to reduce linen washing. And leave the little bottles of toiletries behind if you don’t use them.
9) Set your home to vacation mode: Turn all electrical appliances to their vacation or energy-saving mode. Turn off all lights or put one key light on a timer. Suspend your newspaper delivery until your return. And unplug non-necessary appliances.
10) Walk or take public transit: Experience your destination like a local--and burn some calories too! Pack a backpack and good walking shoes and do your best to reduce car travel in your destination.
But don't take it from me--listen to the Eco-Bunnies!
Comments
Jul 24, 2009
I study advertising and design in school at the moment. I am currently with an extremely eco-friendly professor, he is showing us a tonne of info of green design. There in lies the very problem. Companies refuse to go green because the short term profits are low to nil. That's actually attributed as the biggest problem. Companies measure in short term profit. They rarely look to the future as a larger picture.
Take the auto industry. America has launched pilot projects, prototypes for some of the greenest cars on the planet. They have even found new hybrid materials stronger than steel, and half the weight. But sadly these will not get much further than prototypes. Companies are really apprehensive to invest without short term pr
Jul 27, 2009
I've tried to get on board, but I still feel that the entire premise of carbon offsets is based on flimsy logic. The Wikipedia page on offsets is a good resource for such criticism, such as: no guarantee of permanence of the trees (offset trees can still be cleared for cutting and burning, or the tree may simply die (such as in the instance of the "Coldplay forest", where a grove of carbon offsetted trees perished and actually released even more CO2); a lack of regulation in the industry; the planting of invasive species of plants; and at the heart of it all, the fact that carbon offsets are, at best, use the same logic as papal indulgences (paying for absolution from guilt rather than changing the behavior). Maybe one day the market will force some transparancy and accountability to this shaky practice that will prove its effectiveness, but for now it just feels like suckers throwing good money after bad with no results.
Jul 27, 2009
I understand your skepticism and trust me, we all want better regulation of the carbon offset industry. It's similar to when the organic food movement was in its infant stages and everyone was asking, Well, what does it mean if this peach is organic? Is that better than a locally grown peach? Who says it's organic?
That's why we've done our homework and partnered with The Conservation Fund. The American Institute of Philanthropy repeatedly awards the Conservation Fund its highest "A+" grade for unsurpassed effectiveness and efficiency. Unlike many carbon offset organizations, they are a non-profit and over 96% of donations go directly to projects. That's pretty incredible!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Conservation_Fund
I'm not saying carbon offsets are perfect--solar powered planes would be MUCH better--but until we have greener technology, it's a good step. Plus, as an avid hiker, I personally think there can't be too many trees :)
And if you're skeptical about reforestation projects, there are many other offset programs you can use that have projects like wind power and methane digesters. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrapass
Aug 03, 2009
Thanks for wonderful tips for Green travel!!I especially liked Tips@2 Fly non-stop!!That's is in fact a good idea. This is very practical way to cutting down on travel too. It is also a green things to do!!
Aug 10, 2009
Thanks so much for the great tips for green travel and I will be using them all soon!
Aug 15, 2009
Thanks Alison for the great article. To add to your article and for more tips on how your travel choice can make a difference, please visit http://www.ecotourism.org/your-travel-choice-makes-a-difference or the blog from The International Ecotourism Society at http://www.yourtravelchoice.org.
Happy traveling and don't forget to check out TIES Responsible Travel Myths.
Oct 29, 2009
Please see my web site at www.floaapetdishes.com to see if you would be interested in my eco-friendly pet dishes. These can be used in your green hotels that are pet friendly.
Thanks,
Sharon
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