Summer Vacation:
How Green Can It Be?

by James Ball

With family reunions, summer vacations and warmer weather on the horizon you may be planning a trip or a weekend getaway in the very near future. But what should you do when considering global warming concerns or the high price of gas? There are many green alternatives to the traditional vacation.

Think globally, vacation locally. We are extremely fortunate to live in an area that is seen as an extremely desirable vacation destination by millions of people worldwide. Perhaps this summer is your opportunity to rediscover the sights and delights of San Francisco and the Bay Area. I mean, c'mon, when was the last time YOU rode a cable car for absolutely no reason whatsoever?

Ecotourism is another great green option for a family vacation. For a trip to be classified as an ecotour, it must meet three criteria: it must help sustain the environment, the economy and the culture of the place visited. Ecotravel has grown in popularity over the past few years and many travel agents now offer green travel packages. There is a huge variety of destinations that meet the goals of ecotourism.

Visit the websites of the following organizations for more information:

You could also consider other ground transportation options, such as by train or bus. Buy a ticket and share the fuel costs collectively with your fellow passengers. It could save you a significant amount of cash, especially with gas prices nearing five dollars a gallon in the Bay Area. And, you can kick back and listen to music or watch a flick on your iPod, read a book or catch up on your napping. To paraphrase one major transportation provider, leave the driving to them!

If these alternatives are not an attractive option for you and your plans, travel by automobile may well be in your future. By taking a few proactive steps and following some simple driving guidelines, you can increase the fuel efficiency of your vehicle substantially. And the higher the cost of a gallon of gas, the more impact these actions will have on your financial savings. See the list below for some vital green tips.


Green Tips for Auto Travel

  • Change your vehicles air filter. Changing a dirty air filter can increase your fuel efficiency by up to ten percent.
  • Be sure that your tires are properly inflated. Be keeping them at the correct pressure, you can increase your mpg by up to 3 percent.
  • Get a tune up. If it has been awhile since your vehicle has been attended to, there can be many things that once corrected could significantly increase your fuel efficiency.
  • Use cruise control. Aggressive driving (rapid acceleration and braking) can cost you up to one-third and for every 5 mph over 60 mph
  • Drive the speed limit. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. As a rule of thumb, assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon for gas.
  • Don't sit and be idle. When sitting still with your engine running, you are getting zero (O) miles to the gallon. An idling engine can use up to 3/8 gallon of gas in thirty minutes.
  • Pack lightly. Every extra one hundred pounds of cargo will cost you 1 mpg.
  • On hot days use your vehicle's air conditioner on the highway to cool off. This one may surprise you! While using the air conditioner can reduce your fuel efficiency by up to ten percent, when traveling over 40 miles per hour the drag caused by open windows will actually lower fuel efficiency even more. However, when driving at lower speeds, feel free to open up the windows and enjoy the fresh air!
  • If you are renting a car, rent a hybrid. The daily rate may be slightly more expensive, but the fuel savings will more than make up the difference.
  • Go to the car wash. Don't wash your car by hand at home in the driveway. Most professional car washes use more than 60% less water and recapture some for reuse. Also, the water that is not reused is treated to be more environmentally friendly when it does go down the drain.
  • Purchase carbon offsets to balance out your vehicles global warming emissions. When you purchase these offsets from organizations (such as TerraPass.com) your money is invested in clean energy projects that "offset" your carbon emissions by producing green, sustainable energy that replaces other non-sustainable energy sources.
  • Organizations that offer cabon offsets for travel:
  • Terrapass
  • Carbonfund