Eco-Conscious Holidays: Travel

[Image credit: Joshua Davis at Flickr under a Creative Commons license]

It’s that time of year! There are parties and big meals to plan, gifts to get together, and travel plans to finalize. How is a person supposed to live green during such a busy time of year? This week, we’re going to take a look at ways to have a fabulous holiday season without giving up those Earth-friendly ideals. It doesn’t have to feel like a sacrifice!

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Air Travel
I have to admit here that the travel aspect is the toughest one. Air travel is just not green. Airline emissions are responsible for a horrendous amount of carbon emissions. If you do have to fly to meet your family, you might consider buying carbon offsets, but be careful! There are some shady companies out there. Read more on responsibility and carbon offsets.

On the Road
If it’s possible, driving to your destination is a bit better. There are a number of companies where you can rent a hybrid car for your trip. It used to be somewhat of a struggle to find a hybrid rental, but it’s much easier now that large rental companies are stocking them! Reserve early if you decide to go this route, because with gas prices fluctuating the way they are hybrid rentals get snatched up pretty quickly!

Taking the Train
Train travel is hands down the greenest option. According to the calculator at Carbonfootprint.org, the 1200 mile trip from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale emits .268 tonnes of CO2 when traveling by air. The footprint by rail is less than half that, coming in at .116 tonnes. On top of lower emissions, rail travel is much more relaxed than car or plane. You can get up and walk around whenever you like, you don’t have to focus on the road, and you don’t have to get to the train station two hours ahead of your departure time.

Check out the other posts in this Eco-Conscious Holiday series! Read about throwing a green holiday party here and tips on Earth-friendly gifts right over here.

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