Articles

Going Green Made Easy - Green Tips Roundup

First Posted: March 25, 2008

4) Ideas for Green Travel and Vacationing

• Explore close to home. The single greatest environmental impact in travel is flying. Why not visit a city near you, or, better yet, become a tourist in your own city? Explore, and look for hidden gems - be it a quiet cafe, a hot new restaurant, or a bed and breakfast that will pamper you silly. You'll not only curb the cost of travel, but you might just find yourself some wonderful establishments and locales that you can frequent going forward.


• Take a hike! We mean this in the best sense possible - get some fresh air and exercise, and enjoy what nature has to offer. Camping, of course, is an excellent extension of this.


• If you're renting a car, rent something small and fuel efficient (maybe even a hybrid!) rather than a hulking behemoth. Smaller usually means so cheaper, so the Earth and your wallet will end up thanking you.


• If you're staying in a hotel, participate in their water/laundry reduction programs: hang up your bath towels so they aren't replaced with fresh ones, and let the maid service know you don't require new sheets every night. The more people that do this, the more water and energy we save!


• Visit cities with excellent public transit.


• Use small toiletry containers that you refill from your home supply. Not only is this cheaper, but it's far more earth-friendly than buying and discarding travel-sized shampoo with each trip you take.


• Prepare your home for reduced energy use while you're away: turn down the thermostat, unplug unused appliances, cancel your newspaper service, and make sure there aren't any leaky faucets dripping.