Cheap & Simple Ways to Travel Greener

By ReneeV

Taking a green approach to travel goes hand-in-hand with being a responsible traveler. Responsible travel habits reduce the negative environmental impact on the places you visit long after you have returned home. Green travel is having respect for the culture and the traditions of the places you visit. It fosters connections between yourself and your host and benefits the host community’s economy. The best thing is you don’t have to pay more to go green. Find cheap and simple ways to travel greener.

Save Energy
Reuse towels and linens during overnight stays at hotels. Larger hotel chains, such as Best Western, Marriott, Ramada and Westin, ask their guests to reuse towels, according to Earth Talk: Expert Answers to Everyday Questions About the Environment, a book by the authors of Green Living magazine. A trade group called the Green Hotels Association (GHA) says hotels can expect 70 percent of guests to keep their sheets on the bed from the previous evening, if asked. This simple act saves hotels 5 percent on utilities (See References). Another cheap and simple way to travel greener is to turn off the air conditioning and lights when leaving your hotel room.

Reduce Carbon Output
Consider planning a trip that will reduce carbon emissions. Sometimes it’s as simple as considering the distance and the number of passengers who will be traveling. Two people taking a bus generates 50 percent less global-warming pollution than two people would in a hybrid car, according to Getting There Greener, a 2008 publication by the Union for Concerned Scientists (UCS), a nonprofit environmental group. Sometimes, flying is a better option than driving. The UCS said nonstop flights are better than car travel for trips greater than 500 miles. If a bus or flying isn’t an option, the GHA suggests something as simple as avoiding idling in traffic can reduce pollution.

Support the Local Economy
Travel greener by learning about the culture, language and wildlife of the places you visit. This means being respectful of local cultures and traditions, according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare. Choose native cuisine, souvenirs and handmade crafts that benefit the local community over imported goods. Bring home locally-produced beaded jewelry, sculpture and paintings. Avoid buying souvenirs made from endangered animals or plants. Buying products made from endangered species has a negative impact on the environment.

Cheap & Simple Ways to Travel Greener originally published on Travels.com

Do you have any more tips on how to travel with less of an environmental impact?

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