Be Green, Save Green

As the power of the “green movement” over recent years has pushed us forward and into a state of constantly shifting viewpoints, it becomes important to take a look at your own contributions to the problem at large.  By now most of us have picked – or at least considered picking – the low-hanging fruit from the tree of planet-friendly travel.  Stay local, use public transportation upon arrival, and so on.  Yet there still remains a vast wealth of practices to mitigate one’s impact on the looming environmental crisis.  Let’s look at few of the more untraditional ways to do this, which carry an added benefit for your bank account as well.


Plan ahead, use online resources.  With a little forethought, downloading maps and local travel guides to a portable device is just a smart idea.  It’s usually inexpensive or even free, and generates no paper waste.  Plus, when you book above and beyond your hotel accommodations online, i.e. attraction tickets, dining vouchers, etc., you’re likely to score a deal and not waste time or resources driving around your destination pulling an itinerary together.


Mix business with pleasure.  If you travel even semi-regularly for work, most companies will give you the option of extending your stay while still covering the cost of your return flight.  By combining your business trip and personal vacation, you stand a better chance at big cost savings on that second leg of the trip, and do the environment a solid by making fewer overall trips.


Keep it out of the trash.  Items like disposable cameras and Ziploc bags for your toiletries can be easily replaced with reusable, even eco-friendly versions.  The initial cost may be a little more, but the long standing implications of a throwaway purchase will catch up with both your finances and your planet over time.  Don’t bide you time; investing now in these and other green options just make sense.