Even with the best of intentions, it's easy to generate waste and pollution while traveling. By following a few simple guidelines, you can reduce your impact on the environment and save money at the same time. Here are a few tips for traveling green.
Airplanes: Purchase electronic tickets to reduce paper waste.
Automobiles: When renting, request the smallest you can get away with and request fuel efficient models. Unnecessary engine idling wastes fuel and contributes emission pollutants. Turn off your engine when idling and encourage tour bus drivers and cab drivers to do the same. If you drive your own vehicle, you have it tuned-up and properly serviced before you travel.
Motor Boats: Unless you have a new boat motor, you're probably still using a 2-stroke engine. Upgrading to a 4-stroke engine is quieter, 40 times cleaner, and 2-4 times more fuel-efficient than a 2-stroke engine. Gas up the motor on land instead of in the water to avoid fuel spills. Protect wildlife from lead poisoning by using non-lead sinkers for fishing and keep campfire ash away from lakeshores to protect water quality.
Cruise Ships: Cruise ships generate enormous amounts of waste and the industry has long been notorious for unfriendly environmental practices. Each year, dozens of popular cruise lines pay millions of dollars in fines for illegally dumping contaminated bilge wastes at sea. Recently, some cruise lines have voluntarily adopted initiatives to reduce their impact on the environment. Royal Caribbean, for example, now employs environmental officers onboard their ships and regularly schedules themselves for outside environmental audits.
 Each year, dozens of popular cruise lines pay millions of dollars in fines for illegally dumping contaminated bilge wastes at sea. |
Go Public and Motor-free: When possible, utilize public or non-motorized forms of transportation. Share taxis, use hotel shuttles, take buses and sign up for walking and bicycle tours. Do your part to help curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Many hotels and resorts have adopted conservation practices. Book your lodging at places clearly interested in protecting the environment and make sure you let them know that is why you've chosen their establishment.
Businesses respond to their customers. Let them know you appreciate their environmental efforts by passing along compliments to owners, managers and staff. Likewise, when you have a suggestion on how a business might improve their environmental performance, let them know and tell them you appreciate businesses that show an interest in protecting the environment.
