Treading Lightly in Your Travels

Tips for Greening Your Next Trip

By Tedd R. Saunders

Tourism is the world's largest industry. With the combined environmental impact of 4 million travelers each day from the United States alone, some suggest we should all just stop traveling to avoid harming the earth. This view assumes that travel is inherently more wasteful than staying at home - which, judging by many people's lifestyles of conspicuous consumption, is more than debatable.

Traveling is a necessity in our world of far-flung families and global commerce, and it satisfies our basic human need for face-to-face communication. Tourism also builds invaluable insights, understanding, and tolerance between people of different cultures. In the end, it's not where you are that matters as much as what you do once you're there.

Having created some of the world's most environmentally responsible hotels since 1989, I am particularly aware of what can be done to minimize the impact of travel wherever one is headed. Fortunately, there is a burgeoning trend of hotels and other travel providers implementing new and impressive environmental initiatives. Use your buying power in the marketplace to support these companies that share your concerns and ideals. When more people travel with a conscience more companies will make environmentally responsible practices the rule rather than the exception. It's all about the travel choices you make. Now more than ever before, the future of the planet and your children's future is in your hands.

Below is a list of simple tips that will enable you to tread lightly in your travels without sacrificing the comfort, convenience, quality, or richness of your experience. Try them and you will help give a wake-up call to the hospitality industry. Remember the ancient Chinese proverb, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

Planning Your Getaway

To get started, research green destinations, travel agencies, and hotels online. Some sites to look into are:

Flying is particularly harmful to the environment. For a nominal cost Better World Travel's TravelCool carbon offset program will neutralize the greenhouse gas impact associated with your air travel. Certified by the Climate Neutral Network, this is one of only a handful of travel companies to offer this innovative program. Another program is "myclimate" tickets (1-877-MY-CLIMATE).

Green Map Atlas has green maps of cities around the world. Check them out to plan fun, low-impact activities wherever you are headed.

Leaving Home

If you're not traveling a huge distance, consider taking the train or a bus. Remember, Europe isn't the only area of the world worth traveling by train. If you must drive, make sure your car is well-tuned and tires are properly inflated. You'll not only pollute less but also increase your mileage and cut your gas costs up to 15 percent.

Whenever possible, buy your gas from more environmentally responsible oil companies. Although it's impossible to say any gas company is good for the environment, BP Amoco, Sunoco, and Shell have consistently been leaders in their industry on environmental issues, including investing billions of dollars in renewable energy. Goldman Sachs recently rated them the highest of all oil companies for environmental performance.

If you do fly, take public transit or the hotel's shared van instead of a cab to and from the airport. Hybrid taxi services like PlanetTran in Boston can also be found in cities such as Tokyo, London, and San Francisco.

If you plan to rent a car, EV Rentals offers hybrid and electric vehicles throughout California and Arizona. You can also look into car-sharing programs such as ZipCar or Flexcar which offer environmentally preferable cars by the hour, day, or week in some U.S. cities. Similar programs exist in other areas, including some international destinations.

It's a small thing, but remember to pack a canvas bag or two to avoid disposable bags when you shop.

In Your Hotel Room

Set your thermostat at the temperature you actually want. Turning your thermostat higher or lower won't heat or cool your room any faster.

Turn your lights, television, and heat/air conditioner off (or at least down) before you go out.

Use the waste bin, not the toilet, for trash.

If your hotel doesn't have a linen reuse program, let the housekeeping department know you want to reuse your sheets and towels to reduce water, energy, and detergent use. Or you can do what I do and put the "Do Not Disturb" sign on your door so no additional energy, water, or products are used in your room.

Use a paperless, video checkout if it's available on the television in your room - you'll save resources as well as time waiting at the front desk.

Getting Outside

Walk to nearby destinations for fresh air, to stretch your legs, and to take in local sights and sounds.

Plan your day's route using public transit, or look intowalking tours or guided nature hikes in the area.

If you are in a conference or meetings all day, take a few minutes outside to relax and grab a sandwich.

Dining Out

Seek out local and organic foods. They taste better, are better for you, and will give you a flavor of the local culture. The Chef's Collaborative has a wonderful pocket restaurant guide which lists member dining establishments around the United States. The Eat Well Guide is a free online directory of sustainably raised meat, dairy, and eggs at restaurants and stores.

Of course, eating less meat is one of the best things you can do for the planet whether you're home or away. Did you know that 100 vegetarians can be fed on the grain that it takes to produce enough meat for only one person? That's food for thought.

Ordering sustainably harvested fish at restaurants is easy when you have the incredibly helpful pocket MiniGuide to Ocean Friendly Seafood from Blue Ocean Institute.

At restaurants use one set of utensils and glasses throughout a meal, just like you do at home.

Taking out? Grab only the condiments, napkins, and utensils you need. Skip the straw altogether.

Low-Impact Activities

Experience the natural beauty of your destination. Visit a local park, waterfront, aquarium, or museum. Rent a bike, sailboat, canoe, or kayak to explore.

If you have the choice, use a digital camera. They require fewer chemicals to make prints and you can eliminate unwanted shots before printing.

Wherever you vacation, express your interest, encouragement, and concern about companies' environmental efforts through comment cards to the businesses that you patronize. Companies rely tremendously on written feedback from their customers. Your voice will make a real difference.

Tedd R. Saunders is President of EcoLogical Solutions Inc., and Co Owner/Executive Vice President for The Saunders Hotel Group in Boston. He is also the author of The Bottom Line of Green Is Black. Mr. Saunders is often credited with pioneering luxury ecotourism in the late 1980s at his family's properties, all of which have won "Environmental Hotel of The Year" awards from The American Hotel & Lodging Association as well as other top international honors and national recognition. Learn more at www.saundershotelgroup.net.

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