Go Green While Traveling

While Kermit the Frog would argue that it is not easy being green, thousands of others say that being green is not only easy, but necessary for the preservation of our environment. "Going green" can apply to all aspects of daily life from washing dishes to turning lights off, so why not apply the green philosophy to your travel needs?

Watch Your Footprint
Everyone leaves a carbon footprint (a measurement of greenhouse gases produced) in day-to-day activities. Though traveling can be a relaxing getaway from the everyday world, it's important not to forget the environmental impact one may have. Whether you are traveling by car, train, or air, you are adding to your footprint's energy used. Calculate your trips emissions with an online carbon calculator. For information on how to offset your carbon footprint, check out RTM's Offsetting Your Emissions article.

Watch Where You Stay
Green lodging options are popping up all over the country and taking advantage of their services is a wise decision when planning your green vacation. The Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, North Carolina was built to use 40 percent less energy and 30 percent than similar hotels, all while providing luxury accommodations. Fairmont Hotels & Lexus partnered to create two eco-friendly hotels in San Francisco and Washington D.C. Complimentary use of a Lexus LS 600h comes with the Lexus Hybrid Living Suite, available at both locations. The Glenn Hotel in Atlanta was a vacant building saved from demolition. It has transformed into a stylish, sustainable lodging spot complete with new windows for insulation, high efficiency water pumps, and thermostat and light systems that sense when rooms are occupied. For more information on these green hotel options, check out RTM's 2008 Green & Healthy Hotel Guide.

Watch Your Finances
Though green travel is helpful to keeping the planet clean, concerns about cost often arise. Fifty percent of all U.S. adults would like to select more eco-friendly airlines, car rental companies, and hotels. However, only 13 percent said they would be willing to pay more to environmentally-friendly companies. To avoid being broke due to going green, try turning out lights when leaving a room, regulate air conditioning and heating use, and keep showers short. These processes can save you money and help the environment at the same time (and give you a little extra money for green vacations). For more statistics on the monetary effects of green lifestyles, see RTM's article, The Cost of Traveling Green.

For more information on green summer travel, check out RTM's How to Make Your Summer Travels Green article.

Comments

[Kimberly at GoGreenTravelGreen]

Great post. Two other ways to travel green are to pack light (since the more you bring, the more fuel it takes to transport it) and to shop and dine at local businesses.

Here's good a resource on how to pack light:
http://gogreentravelgreen.com/green-travel-101/ultimate-guide-to-packing-light-45-tips-to-lighten-your-load/

[Marilyn Terrell]

I love the Proximity Hotel! Here's a video interview with the owner about the hotel's eco-innovations:
http://intelligenttravel.typepad.com/it/2008/04/video.html