June 1, 2012

 

 *Don’t forget to check back monthly for new tips!

 

1.    Have a PDA or Smartphone?  Go paperless!  Download maps, travel guides, e-tickets, and even podcasted tours.  Save trees and add convenience!

2.    Take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints.  It’s an oldie but a goodie.  Everything you see in nature has a purpose.  Removing even one tiny seashell or rock impacts its surroundings (especially when you imagine one being removed by every visitor!). 

3.    Worried about your carbon footprint from flying?  Look for an airline committed to carbon neutrality or purchase credits to offset your trip (but do your research first to know where those credits are going).

4.    Sunblock contains chemicals that can harm and/or damage marine environments.  Look for an eco-friendly - and equally effective - sunblock. 

5.    Water is a precious resource.  Use it sparingly when brushing your teeth, and turn it off completely when lathering up in the shower.  After a few attempts, you won’t miss a thing!   

 

Think one person doesn’t make a difference?  Well, think again!  The average American drinks more than 22 gallons of bottled water a year.  That’s 20 lbs of plastic! So, switching to a re-useable container means, hmmm…22 gallons = 2816 oz / 12 oz = 235 bottles saved by just one individual!  And at 5 cents per ounce, this savings is as good for the wallet as it is the environment! 

But what has this got to do with travel?  Well, some would say that change starts at home, and if you go green there, you just might be able to do it on the go.  The first step to making any change, however, is to understand your impact.  Once we realize that our choices and actions are important, transforming them can happen right in our living room or 3,000 miles away on vacation. 

For more suggestions and advice on how to be a green globetrotter, be sure to read our Blog and peruse our Destinations page!