Offsetting your carbon footprint while traveling can be a difficult feat to manage. But nowadays, as companies and the general public become more and more informed, green travel can become a reality. Here's a quick guide to small things you can do to make your trip less harsh on the environment.
First, utilize public transportation. That big smelly bus that is motoring down Fifth Avenue may look like an awful polluter. But it's actually better to ride on that thing than your very own personal taxi. Until cities like New York and Chicago pass laws to require all taxi cab companies use hybrid vehicles, traveling on buses and trains will leave the least carbon footprint. It's also a great way to meet and watch the locals in action. Buses are fantastic modes of transport for tourists, especially in foreign countries. It is also a great way to get around safely and economically. You also won't get lost as easily as when you rent a rental car!
Second, reuse your sheets and towels. Nearly every hotel on the planet has installed those information cards that inform you of this. Reusing the same linens for your entire stay greatly reduces the effect on the environment. And why is it that 90 percent of us at home will sleep on our sheets for weeks at a time, but then can't go two nights in a hotel?First, utilize public transportation. That big smelly bus that is motoring down Fifth Avenue may look like an awful polluter. But it's actually better to ride on that thing than your very own personal taxi. Until cities like New York and Chicago pass laws to require all taxi cab companies use hybrid vehicles, traveling on buses and trains will leave the least carbon footprint. It's also a great way to meet and watch the locals in action. Buses are fantastic modes of transport for tourists, especially in foreign countries. It is also a great way to get around safely and economically. You also won't get lost as easily as when you rent a rental car!
Third, pick your hotel accordingly. Believe it or not, there are lists available that score the 'greenness' of hotels. Find this list or one like it online before you book and stay with the confidence that the institution you are giving your money to has the environment on your mind as much as you do.
Fourth, find locally grown produce and local restaurants. While you're staying in that city, try to find the places that aren't importing (and thus multiplying their carbon footprint) their food in from other cities. Oftentimes, adhering to this principle means having to find little diamonds in the rough (and missing that touristy five diamond restaurant) but in the end, is better for all of us.
Fifth, ride hybrid. Put your arm up for a taxi, if the 1985 minivan or explorer pulls up, wave them on. Wait for the Altima or Prius hybrid to come up. The more consumers demand hybrid cabs over old fashioned ones, the more the taxi cab companies will listen.
Lastly, find ways to donate your time and energy to the local spots you visit. Educate people about carbon footprints, donate to local organizations to help get the word out. We can all make this world a better place. And what better way to see the world, than to see it while knowing you are ensuring its very survival. Happy-carbon-light-travels!
Article Source : http://EzineArticles.com/Kelly_Lussan
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