Reduce Carbon Footprint When Traveling

Going to a land far, far away sounds like a great idea for people who crave to immerse themselves into a new culture. Learning a new language, eating local food, delving into the unknown – there are just so many exciting perks that travel brings to the table. But imagine three million passengers flying every day on airplanes that run on toxic fuels. An A380 plane uses as much energy as 3,500 family cars – that’s six cars per passenger.

Air travel is considered the main tourism contributor to global warming. It causes 40 percent of the total carbon emissions, compared to 13 percent by coach and train. No matter how much we love traveling and can’t abstain ourselves from it, its impact on the environment and the climate cannot be ignored. So before thinking of leaving on a jet plane, consider these simple tips on how you can help reduce pollution when traveling.

1. Choose hotel and transportation that can offset your carbon footprint when you book with them. Ledges Hotel in the Poconos donates $2 (added to the bill) to the Delaware Highlands Conservancy. United Airlines offers passengers the option to donate to carbon reduction projects by the Sustainable Travel International.
2. Travel by train or bus instead of by car or air, where possible. For a 1,000-mile trip, the typical emission of carbon dioxide per person for cars is 1,085 pounds, planes 514, trains 430, and buses 170.
3. Stay close to the sites you want to visit. When they’re just walking distance, you can just walk or go on a bike to go sightseeing. You’ll be enjoying the adventure better up close, and give yourself a nice workout as well.
4. Book a flight with airlines that recycle waste from food, beverages, and paper if traveling by air. In 2011, Southwest Airlines recycled more than 2,600 tons of waste, diverting it from landfills.
5. Save energy in the hotel. Turn off the lights and the air conditioning when you’re in the room. Avoid asking housekeeping to have the sheets changed when they are not too dirty.
6. Treat a rental vacation house like it’s your own home. Keep it neat and organized so that less cleaning will be necessary when you leave.
7. Enjoy local food and beverages. You can also visit the local market for regional snacks and meals. You not only enjoy the local culture, but also get to taste great food that the locals are proud of.
8. Window shop, don’t buy. Even the souvenirs we buy from our favorite cities come with their own carbon footprints. If you’re going to buy something, purchase something you can’t find at home or something you can use for a long time.

Comments are closed.