Being ecofriendly and penny wise requires thinking carefully before hopping on a plane. Have you noticed
even though we’re in a recession ticket prices are rising. Unfortunately being on the Hawaiian Islands limits our alternatives to flying… except a long a costly cruise. The reason flying is such a concern for environmentalist is because airplanes generate more than 600 million tons of CO2 per year. Here are some creative travel tips:1. Recycle: this is the fun part of travel. If the flight attendant doesn’t offer recycling do it your self. My favorite targets are magazines and newspapers left behind by first class passengers that I’d like to read. Also bring cup on board to drink the pour items instead of using an airline disposable airline cup.
2. Offset your Travel: It’s not a perfect solution, but offsetting travel does help to alleviate some of the strain planes, trains and automobiles put on the earth. It works more or less like this: you use an online carbon calculator to figure out how much CO2 your travel effectively emitted. Then you pay the appropriate amount to “offset” those emissions to a company that’s investing in sustainable energy such as wind, solar or wave power, or make other efforts to reduce greenhouse gases in the environment. At terrapass.com for example, you can offset 6000 miles of flying equivalent to a round trip coast to coast for only $9.95.
3. Pack Light: As a goal aim to bring only carry-on bags with you on the plane. This has multiple green benefits. First it will encourage packing lighter, which means you’ll be more thoughtful about bringing clothes you don’t need. Less weight on a plane means less fuel burned. $25-50 worth of fuel depending on your trip length. An extra 10 pounds of weight per passenger equals an increase in CO2 emissions of more 4 million tons in a year! Furthermore there is the benefit of convenience. Save time reclaiming your baggage and worry about lost items.
4. Practice Green Away from Home: You need to practice green habits on the road as well as home. Take part in linen reuse programs and don’t ask to have your sheet and towel changed every day. Don’t drink the bottle water drink the tap water. Keep your showers short. Shut off the lights, air conditioner, and television when you live the room.
