4 Ways to a Greener Getaway

Editor’s Note: We’re proud to present a guest post from greenissexy.org. Founded by actress Rachel McAdams and two childhood friends, Megan and Didi, the trio launched greenissexy.org two years ago when they realized that exchanging tips on ways to make an impact on the environment was becoming daily conversation. Green is sexy is about tiny changes that make a big impact. Become part of their community at greenissexy.org.

The 'Green Is Sexy' Team

Travel is a great way to get out and see the world, but it can take a nasty toll on the environment. Reduce your impact and save some money with a few easy tips to help keep your next trip a little greener.

• Stay close to home. When planning your next adventure, consider exploring your back yard. A week exploring your own city can save you money on planes and hotels, and can still be tons of fun. Think of all the museums, restaurants and other fun places you’ve yet to explore in your own town. Make a plan like you would on any other vacation and stick to it. You won’t miss the emissions from air travel, and you might just rediscover that there really is no place like home.
• Consider the mode. Your impact on the environment during travel starts and ends with the journey, not the destination. Consider how you’re getting to your next vacation spot, not just where you’re headed. Short-haul flights are worse for the earth than long-haul ones, so think outside the box when it comes to getting where you’re going. Trains are a wonderful, low-impact mode of transportation and a full car full of friends or family isn’t so bad either. With airlines tacking on extra fees for baggage and other extras, a few hours watching the scenery whip past the window of a car or train will save you money and emissions, which is always sexy.
• Pre-flight done right. There are more than 50,000 commercial airplane flights per day worldwide. If each of those travelers drives just 20 minutes to get to the airport, they’re emitting 1,200 lbs of CO2 into the atmosphere. If you multiply 1200 times 12 million people, that number is too big for our calculator – and that’s just for one day! Should travel season find you headed for the airport, consider taking public transportation, driving a short distance to a park-n-ride spot or hopping an airport shuttle. Reducing the number of individuals driving to the airport can save literally millions of pounds of CO2 from entering our air each day. Flying is hard enough on the environment without adding on the airport commute. Next time you hit the friendly skies, remember to hitch a ride with as many other people as you can.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle and refill. Should wanderlust get the better of you and you find yourself packing your bags and heading someplace wonderful, there will be many opportunities for you to implement the three R’s along the way. Reduce your consumption in the hotel – turn the air conditioning down a few degrees, skip a few flushes of the toilet and use the shower instead of the tub. Reuse the same zip-lock bag for liquids each time you travel. Reuse towels and linens. Think of the water and chemical based soap it takes to wash all of those towels and sheets, not to mention the energy used to heat the water, dryer and irons. Hang hotel towels to dry and reuse again and ask housekeeping to keep the same sheets on your bed instead of getting a freshly laundered batch each day of your stay. Consider bringing recycled reading materials on vacation with you to read en route or at the pool or beach. Before your trip, ask friends or coworkers if they have any books to lend or new magazines they’re through with. When the trip is over, pass the magazines on to someone else or leave them at the Doctor’s office for someone else to enjoy. Refill travel-sized bottles of shampoo, conditioner and body-wash from larger ones at home and leave the complimentary bottles provided by the hotel alone.

Traveling this globe of ours is the best way to develop and appreciation for it. Enjoy travel, but keep it clean and green – we promise you won’t miss a thing.