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Tips for Earth Friendly Travel

BY "ECO-GAL" Mayre Press

Dear Eco Gal,

I’m planning my vacation and would like to make Earth friendly choices. What do you recommend? — Green Traveler

Dear Green Traveler,

Whether you arrive at your destination by car or plane, you can purchase carbon offsets from www.terrapass.com. For example let’s use a flight from Chicago to Portland, Oregon. At a distance of 3,466 miles, 69 gallons of fuel are used and 1,351 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO₂) are produced. That flight is categorized as a Puddle Jumper because it is less than 6,000 miles and less than 2,500 pounds of CO₂ are generated. The fee for a Flight TerraPass is $9.95.

Purchasing a Flight TerraPass means lower carbon dioxide emissions elsewhere because industrial efficiency and renewable energy projects, such as wind farms, will be funded with the fees. Renewable energy from wind reduces CO₂ emissions by displacing power produced from fossil fuels. Industrial efficiency initiatives reduce CO₂ emissions through conservation. The Flight TerraPass results in a guaranteed reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, balancing out your flight’s global warming impact.

As travel destinations go, Portland is an excellent model of an eco-friendly urban environment with a public transit system that could eliminate the need for a rental car. Several "green" options are available for overnight travel accommodations. A visit to www.greenhotels.com yields green hotels, inns and bed & breakfasts listed alphabetically by state. It lists properties in Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and other continents as well. Navigate to the "Member Hotels" page and scroll to find a city/state destination. Most establishment listings include a link to the property’s own website.

More extensive bed & breakfast selections can be found on Pamela Lanier’s website: www.lanierbb.com. On the homepage choose the button labeled "Select" and check the "USA & Canada" option. Go to the "Amenities" button, click and check the box for "Green." In the destination window, type in a city/state and click on the arrow. You’ll be redirected to a page with a list of B&Bs that are green and most listings have a link to the property’s website.

What makes a hotel, inn or bed and breakfast green? According to a spokesperson for the Green Hotels Association, "Green hotels are properties whose managers are eager to institute programs that save water, save energy and reduce solid waste—while saving money—to help the environment."

The resources presented are a sampling of what is out there for your information. Publication of this material does not represent an endorsement.

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The issues/events presented are just a sampling of what’s available and does not represent an endorsement of any group or its activities. Contact Eco Gal at ecogal247@yahoo.com.