 If you're getting ready to leave the United States and vacation in a foreign country, you can take a few steps to make your international travel plans as eco-friendly as possible. Consider the following simple steps when making eco-friendly travel plans:
1) The first step is to book your flight with an eco-friendly airline. British Airways, Continental Airlines, Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, Delta and Virgin Blue are all airlines that travel internationally and have adopted eco-friendly practices. They have all invested in airplane designs that increase fuel-efficiency. Virgin Atlantic has invested $1.5 billion to find clean fuel sources in the coming decade.
2) Once you've booked your flight, make a few plans before you leave. Plan to unplug all of your unneeded appliances, such as your television, microwave and computer. These electronics and appliances continue to suck energy from the grid, even when turned off. You can also program your thermostat lower (in the winter) or higher (in the summer) to reduce unnecessary heating while you're away.
3) When you pack, pack as lightly as possible. By doing so, you will make the plane ride a little bit lighter, which eases the need for fuel and reduces carbon emissions (even if it's only by a bit). The bigger reason to pack lightly, however, is so that you're not limited with your transportation options once you arrive. If you only have one bag, it's a lot easier to jump onto a subway or bus. That way, you can take advantage of public transit, which is one of the greenest ways to get around.
4) You should also plan to pack a reusable water bottle. That way, you don't need to buy dozens of bottles of water, which then end up in landfills.
5) While on your flight, try to avoid using the restroom on the plane if possible. Instead, wait until you are in the airport. You should do this because when you flush an airplane toilet, it's the fuel equivalent of driving a car for six miles.
6) Once you're at your destination, stay local as much as possible. That's not to say that you can't explore. Staying local is more about buying local goods and services. Eat local foods that were produced in the region. That way, you can reduce the food miles (the transportation associated with food getting from where it was grown to your plate) associated with your meals, while also gaining a better understanding of the culture.
7) Ecotourism is also a great way to make your trip green, since typical ecotourism activities, like hiking and biking, are very eco-friendly.
8) You should also plan to stay in an eco-friendly hotel. Hostels and bed and breakfasts are great places to look. There are also many hotels around the world that are adopting sustainable practices. The best eco-friendly hotels conserve water, use energy efficient electricity (including energy efficient light bulbs) and generate their own clean power with solar photovoltaic cells, wind turbines or other clean energy technologies. The best eco-friendly hotels also use native landscaping, and some even have their own on-site, organic gardens.
9) Finally, when you're at your destination, make sure that your souvenirs are authentically local.
EnviroCitizen.org wants you to know that there are many little choices that you can make that will make your trip as eco-friendly as possible. Consider any or all of the suggestions above next time you travel!
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