Traveling Green in 2009

As 2009 begins, many of us will make plans to travel and see what lays outside of our normal everyday world.  Travel inherently has the potential to pollute and most likely does.  Cars, buses, ships, trains, and planes all emit carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, and carbon monoxide, and hotels and resorts use energy to operate.  But while these are all factors in traveling "green", you can see the world while still looking after it and travel in a way that's environmentally responsible. 

In a poll conducted by the Travel Industry Association of America, more than half of U.S. adults said they'd be more likely to choose a hotel, airline, or rental car company that uses and practices more environmentally friendly products and processes.  So what is a responsible traveler to do?  Fortunately, it's easier than it once was to find travel companies, hotels, etc. with eco-friendly practices.  Fairmont Hotels & Resorts was a lonely beginner in 1990 when it first started to recycle materials in hotel rooms and offer guests the option to reuse towels and sheets more than once to reduce water usage.  Now many others are following in their steps:  Marriott Hotels & Resorts and Hilton all have green programs.  And the Gaia Napa Valley Hotel and Spa opened in 2006 as the first hotel to be Gold-level certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.  

But hotels aren't the only ones instituting green practices.  Cruise lines are getting "on-board" too, pun intended!  Princess Cruise's ships dock and the ships plug into shoreside electricity for power in all ports of call.  Most Holland America Line ships recycle all the vessel's water, including wastewater, which is then used for things like engine cooling.

So when you're getting ready to book a trip what should you be considering? Here are tips travelers can use to travel green in 2009:

• Find a place you want to travel to through the 'Green' Map System.  The green maps system is a locally-led system that communities put together themselves to chart their green living, natural, cultural, and civic resources.  There are over 50 countries to explore.  See more here.
• Research online and through books on how to be an eco-friendly traveler. There are many other sites you can go to that have tips that can help you be prepared as a "green" traveler in 2009, such as the Traveling the Green Way blog and also the Green Passport site.  
• Visit Eco-Hotels to book your hotel stay.  Eco-hotels is a website that you can go to that helps you find the hotels who practice being eco-friendly.  Before booking your hotel ask these key questions: 1.)  Is the hotel locally owned and operated?  If not, then is it at least staffed by local employees?  2.)  What kind of recycling program does the hotel have (aluminum, plastic, paper, gray water, composting)?  3.)  Do guests have the option to reuse towels and sheets instead of having them changed every day?  4.)  What programs does the hotel have to reduce consumption? Examples include energy-efficient lighting, low-flow toilets and showers and alternative energy sources like solar or wind power?  5.) How does the hotel contribute to the local community? 
• Reduce carbon use.  Use public transportation in cities.  When renting a car, rent a hybrid or other fuel-efficient vehicle.  If you cannot reduce carbon use, consider purchasing carbon offsets.
• Conserve energy and water.  Turn off all lights, heating, and air-conditioning when you leaver your hotel room.  Use towels and sheets at least twice.  Pack light- more weight equals more fuel.
• Minimize bottled water use.  In developing countries, sealed bottled water is probably still safest.  But in developed countries, use tap water and refill your water bottle.  Use recycling bins wherever you find them.  You can still use less bottles if you are in undeveloped countries by purchasing water by the gallons and filling up your reusable water bottle when needed.
• Stay in a national park.  You'll find it easy to be eco-friendly in these refuges, which typically have recycling bins, low-flow water fixtures, and buildings designed for minimum impact.  But visit off-season to ease overcrowding- fewer people means less of an impact on fragile ecosystems.
• Be active.  Opt for hiking or biking vacations.  You'll not only cut down on pollutants, you'll also get a workout.

Making these efforts can build knowledge and help ensure that future generations will also be able to travel and enjoy the wonders of our world.