ecotip
Travel Light Five Tips for a More Eco-Friendly Trip
When asked for advice about how to avoid creating emissions that contribute to global warming and be a cool trav- eler, travel experts at eco-tour outfitter Natural Habitat Adventures, in Boulder, Colorado (
nathab.com), offered these five simple ways to avoid making our next vacation a guilt trip.
STAY NEUTRAL. Going the group tour route? Check for green creden- tials. Increasingly, travel outfitters are bolstering an ongoing commitment to sustainable travel by becoming car- bon neutral. Programs may include recycling and renewable energy use, and then buying offsets to make up the difference, to guarantee carbon neutral trips for guests. Even some major online travel companies offer travelers offset options when they make reservations.
CHART A GREEN COURSE. New eco-maps chart the natural and cultural environments to suggest low-impact activities and resources wherever we travel. Green Map System provides “green” maps of some 302 spots around the globe (
GreenMap.org).
TAKE A TRAIN. Europe isn’t the only place worth traveling by train. Check into train or bus options in other countries, as well. In the United States, railroad shuttles up and down the East- ern Seaboard are particularly quick and convenient.
FUEL FOR THOUGHT. Committed to a road trip? Keep the car well-tuned and tires properly inflated to pol- lute less—and cut gas costs up to 15 percent. Try to buy gas from a more environmentally responsible oil compa- ny: The Sierra Club recently updated its Pick Your Poison guide to gasoline, and Sunoco continues to receive its “top of the barrel” rating.
Better yet, rent a hybrid or biofuel green car from a mainstream rental
natural awakenings July 2011 21
company. Or, consider a local hybrid car-sharing service. Also consider joining an Earth-friendly auto club such as Better World Club, which offers discounts on hybrid cars and eco-travel—and even roadside assistance for bicycles.
IN TRANSIT. When flying to a destination, eschew using individual cabs in favor of pub- lic transit or a hotel shuttle to and from the airport. Or, hail a hybrid cab: Chicago, New York, San Francisco and London all have added hybrid taxis to their fleets, and Planet Tran offers a hybrid taxi reservation service in several major cities on the east and west coasts. When visiting a city, remember to plan the day around walk- ing destinations and local public transit options.
Source: Adapted from
Life.Gaiam.com.
May you live all the days of your life. ~Jonathan Swift
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