Green Getaways
July 1, 2009 – 7:50 pm by MarinaHanes
Summer seems to be flying by, so if you have anywhere you want to go, you better make plans soon. Even if you’re traveling abroad or visiting a family members a few state away, your trip can be sustainable. You might even save some money by using alternative transportation options. So where do you want to go before the nice weather ends?
First Things First
It’s tempting to rush out of your house with your bare basics so you can get to your destination faster, but by taking an hour or two to prepare your house, you can reduce your waste and save money on your next electricity bill. For example, set window candles or other security lights on a timer, turn off the air conditioning, switch power strips off and unplug any devices or appliances.
Packing some basic snack foods will prevent some of your food from going to waste and reduce your driving time since you will not need to stop at restaurants. Consider taking peanut butter, bread, nuts, dried fruits and maybe some ripe vegetables from your garden too.
Transportation Options
To reduce your carbon footprint, try carpooling with others by leaving for the vacation spot at the same time. If you’re traveling solo for a more relaxing getaway, use a ride share program, which will help find you a person to carpool with.
When the destination is too far to drive to, purchase a carbon offset from Terra Pass. An alternative is to book your flight on a website such as RezHub, which donates a percentage of its profits to eco-friendly organizations. Once you reach your destination, walking or renting a bicycle or a hybrid rental car can give you the chance to sightsee.
Sustainable getaways are ones that you will remember for being eco-friendly and maybe even less expensive than your past trips.
Tags: alternative transportation, green getaways, ride share program, sustainable vacation