Every woman out there who is passionate about traveling knows how exciting each and every trip can be. However, this excitement shouldn’t be so overwhelming that you forget the importance of saving energy and being sustainable when traveling. Being a traveler you appreciate and love the environment by default – so why not help in protecting it when visiting new destinations?
Don’t just be a tourist, be a sustainable tourist. Here are some tips for you….
#1: Minimizing Air Travel
There’s no doubt about the fact that air travel is one of the leading causes of greenhouse gas emissions. With each passing day it contributes more and more to climate change. Which is why you should try and use less of air travel. Take out some time to carefully plan your trip and see if you can substitute it with train or bus travel. Train travel is often slightly more expensive, but so much more relaxing. You get to enjoy the country you are traveling through, have room to move – and even beds in many! There is nothing like falling asleep to the gentle rocking of a train.
#2: Unplugging Before Traveling
Keeping any household appliances plugged in while you’re away is a surefire way to drain energy. So before you leave for your trip, make sure you unplug all appliances. Every energy sucking device, including your geyser, should be switched off. You can also unplug and be sustainable in the middle of traveling by carrying rechargeable batteries with you. Simple things like these matter a lot in the long run when it comes to going green and saving energy.
#3: Switching Your Electricity Provider
Regardless of how long your trip is going to be, you should ensure your home is energy efficient while you’re away. Besides doing basic things to make it more energy efficient, think about moving to a better energy supplier so that you don’t come back to a huge energy bill. This especially applies to you if you live in a humid place like Cleveland, OH where efficient cooling/heating is important. Which is exactly why you find so many Cleveland energy suppliers offering electricity at competitive rates – so take advantage of where you live and switch to a better monthly rate.
#4: Aiming for Sustainable Local Travel
When you land at your destination, don’t be hasty in renting a car for your local traveling needs. Have a green approach to it and try to use trains and buses for traveling as much as you can. These forms of local travel help you save money too. Besides these, try cycling, walking and sailing too as they are obviously environmentally friendly and quite enjoyable too. They won’t be as fast as, say, air travel, but still you will be able to experience the local culture in a unique way while getting a bit of exercise!
#5: Consuming Local Foods and Water
Sustainability doesn’t have to be hard when you’re in foreign land. By simply opting for foods produced locally, you will be contributing to the environment without compromising on the taste factor. Right from shopping at local food markets and grocery stores to eating in local restaurants, there are so many ways to eat healthy while staying sustainable. And yes, don’t forget to carry reusable tupperware with you when traveling, and a fold up shopping bag so you can say no to plastic. You can now buy reusable water bottles that have filters, so you don’t contribute to the waste in the countries you visit, or you can do what the russian army does and purify your water as you go.
Enjoy being a sustainable tourist!
