What Is Green Traveling?
As the world moves closer and closer to a day when we will finally be able to go green for good, green traveling has taken on additional importance. So what is green travel, exactly? It is a term that is used to describe traveling practices that are geared towards helping to sustain the environment and minimize one’s carbon footprint.
Travelers who choose to go green make a conscious effort to move in an efficient manner, by supporting a number of environmentally friendly businesses, by selecting transportation methods that are less harmful to the world around them and by taking all of the steps to preserve the environment’s overall integrity.
Let’s take a closer look at the most important factors that are comprised by green travel:
Style of Transportation
Those who travel green pay extra attention to their carbon footprint, by walking and riding bicycles whenever possible. This also involves the usage of public transportation, including trains and buses. What’s more, green travelers typically rent hybrid vehicles to cut down on the number of harmful emissions their vehicle is responsible for.
Offsetting Emissions
When traveling, a great deal of carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, which is harmful to those who live in the surrounding areas. The best way to offset your emissions is to purchase your trip from companies that are cognizant of their impact from both an environmental and societal standpoint.
Local Impact
Green travelers choose companies that invest their money into the local community and who also make sure to employ a variety of local citizens to work for them. If you patronize a business or lodge, inquire about their employment practices and find out if they are staffed by locals.
Conservation of the Environment
In order to travel green, you must consider the impact of your journey on the surrounding environment. Selecting a trip that carefully considers the local environment and serves to enhance its integrity is the best way to travel green. Steer clear of areas that are protected habitats and are home to wildlife.
Immersion in Local Culture
The best way to get the most out of your green traveling experience is to immerse yourself in local cultures. Doing your homework and researching the language and customs of the place you are visiting goes a long way. Be sure to do this before you select a destination, not after. It’s not a difficult task, as there’s a lot of information to be found on the Internet nowadays. However, if you want to make sure you have a reliable source it is worth to invest in books, which don’t have to be expensive either if you use some coupons.
Efficient Use of Resources
The three R’s come to mind here: recycling, reusing, and reducing. This also includes an investigation into the methods of waste management used by the place you will be staying. Using energy and water in a manner that is conducive to conservation is a crucial aspect of traveling green.
Disclosure: This article was written in collaboration with Discountrue.