Pre-Flight Green Trip Tips For Air Travelers
Can anyone go green and still fly the friendly skies? Unless a train is available, it's hard to find a mode of travel that's fast and eco-friendly over long distances.
And in such a global economy, traveling by air is sometimes inevitable.
The aviation industry is doing its best to decrease its carbon footprint - in the past 40 years alone, airplanes have become 70 percent more efficient through improved aerodynamic efficiency.
Traveling by airplane can release nearly twice as many harmful gases as traveling by car because of something called radiative forcing.
In eco-terminology, radiative forcing is a fancy way of saying that emissions at high levels in the atmosphere are more damaging than emissions that are released closer to earth.
Here are some ideas to get you thinking about what you can do to decrease your carbon footprint and curb pollution: Green Your Pre-Flight Drive and Parking - If you believe the little things add up, then you can green your drive to the airport and green your parking.
On your way to the airport, make sure your tires are properly inflated - it really does save fuel.
Also save on car fuel by not hunting for an open parking space by driving around and around the airport parking lot.
Reserve your parking spot ahead of time with private off-site parking so that you can pull into a guaranteed spot.
A shuttle brings passengers to the airport.
Buy Carbon Offsets - Many green travelers elect to subdue the damage of their flight by buying carbon offsets.
Major travel sites like Expedia.
com offer the option to have trees planted that will make up for the emissions of your flight.
If you suffer from green guilt, buying carbon offsets is a great way to alleviate that guilt.
Some advocates say that carbon offsets are a bit of a cop-out because it's not a square trade, while others argue that doing something is better than doing nothing.
If you don't buy carbon offsets when you book your flight, you could opt instead to make a donation to a green charity or a renewable energy project.
Pack Less - By traveling light, you save fuel.
A heavy plane uses more fuel than a lighter plane; if everyone remembers this rule of thumb, a large fuel savings could ultimately be realized.
Pack clothes that do double duty and wardrobe pieces that are compatible with each other.
Make it an adventure to see how light you dare to pack.
Do you really want to carry around a bunch of extra bags or pay checked baggage fees anyway? Stay at a Green Hotel - There are eco-friendly hotels popping up all over the place.
Before you book a night, be sure that it has legitimate green features.
Many accommodations claim to be eco-friendly but in reality have few green business practices, if any.
Look for hotels that are dedicated to recycling and conserving water.
Is the accommodation committed to using green cleaners, which are healthier for everyone? At the very least, you can reuse your towels and linens each night and turn the air conditioning and TV off when you aren't in your room.
The trick is simply being thoughtful from the beginning to the end of your trip.
It starts at home - by turning down the thermostat before you leave - and continues until you get home.
And in such a global economy, traveling by air is sometimes inevitable.
The aviation industry is doing its best to decrease its carbon footprint - in the past 40 years alone, airplanes have become 70 percent more efficient through improved aerodynamic efficiency.
Traveling by airplane can release nearly twice as many harmful gases as traveling by car because of something called radiative forcing.
In eco-terminology, radiative forcing is a fancy way of saying that emissions at high levels in the atmosphere are more damaging than emissions that are released closer to earth.
Here are some ideas to get you thinking about what you can do to decrease your carbon footprint and curb pollution: Green Your Pre-Flight Drive and Parking - If you believe the little things add up, then you can green your drive to the airport and green your parking.
On your way to the airport, make sure your tires are properly inflated - it really does save fuel.
Also save on car fuel by not hunting for an open parking space by driving around and around the airport parking lot.
Reserve your parking spot ahead of time with private off-site parking so that you can pull into a guaranteed spot.
A shuttle brings passengers to the airport.
Buy Carbon Offsets - Many green travelers elect to subdue the damage of their flight by buying carbon offsets.
Major travel sites like Expedia.
com offer the option to have trees planted that will make up for the emissions of your flight.
If you suffer from green guilt, buying carbon offsets is a great way to alleviate that guilt.
Some advocates say that carbon offsets are a bit of a cop-out because it's not a square trade, while others argue that doing something is better than doing nothing.
If you don't buy carbon offsets when you book your flight, you could opt instead to make a donation to a green charity or a renewable energy project.
Pack Less - By traveling light, you save fuel.
A heavy plane uses more fuel than a lighter plane; if everyone remembers this rule of thumb, a large fuel savings could ultimately be realized.
Pack clothes that do double duty and wardrobe pieces that are compatible with each other.
Make it an adventure to see how light you dare to pack.
Do you really want to carry around a bunch of extra bags or pay checked baggage fees anyway? Stay at a Green Hotel - There are eco-friendly hotels popping up all over the place.
Before you book a night, be sure that it has legitimate green features.
Many accommodations claim to be eco-friendly but in reality have few green business practices, if any.
Look for hotels that are dedicated to recycling and conserving water.
Is the accommodation committed to using green cleaners, which are healthier for everyone? At the very least, you can reuse your towels and linens each night and turn the air conditioning and TV off when you aren't in your room.
The trick is simply being thoughtful from the beginning to the end of your trip.
It starts at home - by turning down the thermostat before you leave - and continues until you get home.
