How to Take a Carbon Neutral Vacation

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By taralynnebrown
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating: (6 Ratings)

People are becoming more aware of their carbon footprint. Vacations involve travel and travel involves planes, trains and/or automobiles, which release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Understanding how to reduce your impact on the environment when you take a vacation will make a difference. Here are the 10 Steps to a Carbon Neutral Vacation:

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Time
Flexibility
Credit card

Step 1

Consider a staycation, it offers the least impact on the environment.
Step 2

Choose a destination that isn't too far, if you are leaving town, in an effort to reduce your overall carbon footprint.
Step 3

Think about who you are traveling with. If you are traveling with others try to travel together so that separate unnecessary carbon footprints are not created.
Step 4

Learn about airlines' sustainability practices if you are flying and choose one that has a strong environmental conscience.
Step 5

Choose a hotel or bed and breakfast that is recognized as a "green" facility. Many hotels today use renewable energy sources, provide low-flow showerheads and other green features. Find them and patronize them.
Step 6

Research your destination's transportation options. How will you be traveling when you arrive there? Walking and bicycling have zero carbon emissions! Walk and bike wherever you can. It's good for the environment and good for your health! If that is not possible, rent a hybrid car or rely on your destination's mass transit system.
Step 7

When dining, choose restaurants that support local farm sources. You will be supporting businesses that utilize resources that didn't emit excess carbon by traveling hundreds of miles.
Step 8

Keep track of the amount of miles you travel and how you travel.
Step 9

When you arrive home visit Carbonfund.org, TerraPass.com, NativeEnergy.com or search for a carbon offsetting organization that supports sustainable practices that you are passionate about. These sites offer calculators where you can enter your mileage and mode of transportation, then purchase offsets for different causes. You will be surprised that just a few dollars neutralizes the carbon impact of your entire trip!
Step 10

Enjoy an extra benefit! Choose an offsetting organization (like Carbonfund.org for example) that allows your contribution to be tax-deductible.