Eco-friendly tips for your holiday

There are many things you can do to be more ‘green’ while on vacation without committing to becoming a tree-hugger or giving up all your creature comforts.

Transportation

• As airplanes emit the most carbon emissions, try to take a train or bus when travelling shorter distances. 
• If flying is the only plausible option, try to book direct flights as landing and taking off consumes a lot of fuel.
• Where possible, use airlines like British Airways, Silverjet, and Scandanavian Airlines which are taking the environmental lead in the industry by offering their passengers the ability to offset the emissions of their flights. 
• Alternatively, you can offset the carbon emissions used from your flights by making a donation to an environmental cause. Organisations like Treeflight plants trees in Kenya for small-scale farmers to help offset carbon emissions while the Carbon Neutral Company enables people to purchase carbon offsets.
• Travel light because extra baggage takes more space, costs more money and requires more aviation fuel to transport.
• Instead of hiring a taxi, use public transportation or walk.

Accommodation

There are plenty of websites that now cater to green travellers looking for eco-friendly accommodation. However, being a friend to Mother Earth doesn’t mean that you have to forego staying at your favourite hotels if you follow these suggestions.

• Re-use hotel towels and linen for the duration of your stay as opposed to having them washed and replaced each day. Many hotels now offer a card where you can indicate your preference for linen change to the cleaning staff. Even if they do not offer this service, inform the reception of your request.
• Where recycling programmes are offered by the hotel, place recyclable materials in the correct bins.
• When you are leaving the room for the day, turn off the lights, television, and air conditioning.
• Pack and use your own toiletries instead of using the mini-bottles of shampoo and soap provided by the hotel as the packaging will cost more to the environment over time.

Sightseeing and Dining

• Where available, go on walking or cycling tours instead of bus or car tours. They not only provide you with exercise and a unique experience, but will be great for the environment as well.
• Try local cuisine and eating the regional specialties. For instance, eat seafood when visiting coastal areas as it would reduce the distance required to transport food from outside the region.
• Order only what you think you can finish and avoid the temptation at buffets to overstuff your plate or you will end up throwing away unfinished food. 

Leave your home eco-friendly

• Before you go on holiday, don’t forget to stop any newspaper and magazine subscriptions.
• Switch off and unplug all electrical appliances such as microwaves, toasters, televisions, computers, and DVD players.  Even if they are switched off, but not unplugged, they can still leak up to 40 watts per hour.
• If you are going away in the summer and need to keep the air-conditioner on for your indoor plants, make sure your thermostat is kept around 28 degrees.
• Close all the windows and the curtains as well to keep out the direct sunlight.
• Switch off your water heater.