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The holiday season is almost upon us, and many of us are planning fun getaways in the near future. However, as an environmentally conscientious traveler, the impact that you are having on the earth as you travel can sometimes weigh on one’s mind . Traveling in an eco-friendly manner can be a good way to do your part for the environment, but you will also find that it has many other benefits in terms of safety and finance as well. Read on to find out some of the best ways to travel, mother earth style!
Limit Gas Usage
Before you book all of your flights, rental cars, and so on, try to think about how you can limit the amount of travel that you do. Try to get a direct flight if possible, and look into public transport in your destination, and take it where possible. If you absolutely must hire a rental car, try to get one that is energy efficient. You can also save gas through the way in which you drive—defensive driving can help you to limit the amount of gas that you use through excessive acceleration and braking.
Reusable Items
You can also go eco-friendly by making use of reusable items. Travel sized bottles and other toiletries might be convenient, but they are harmful to the environment. Instead, use reusable bottles and fill them up before you leave. Carry other things in Ziploc bags. You can also bring with you a cloth bag, in which you can carry your souvenirs, or even items bought at the airport. This will come in handy especially for some destinations, as many places have a fee for plastic bags. If you bring your own bag, you will be saving your money as well as the environment.
A Green Home
A lot of people want to make sure that their home is secure while they are away on vacation. This often entails hiring a house sitter, or even just leaving on some lights while you are gone. This can be avoided by using a home automation system. A security system can allow you to turn your lights on and off as you please, thanks to the rise of green technology, which limits the amount of energy wasted. It will also allow you to adjust your temperature controls. Many people leave their heating on when they go on vacation, in order to avoid problems such as frozen pipes. This can be avoided through home automation. These sorts of systems also usually come with security features, which is where the safety aspect comes into play. Power players in the industry like Vivint, ADT, and others, are driving the industry to become cleaner, more efficient, and useful, which translates to savings for you.
When you are on vacation, you want to get away from it all, but that does not mean that you have to abandon the environmental practices that you usually live by. It doesn’t take much to continue your eco-friendly lifestyle, you just have to think about what you are doing, just as you would at home. That way, you can have a great vacation, one hundred percent guilt free!