November 22, 2006
It's Easy Being Green

Kermit the Frog was wrong.  It’s actually quite easy being green.  Even when away from home.  Keeping these pointers in mind as you hit the road for the holidays will help Mother Nature stay in the pink.

1. Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando or San Francisco on your list?  Earth Day Network and Google Maps partnered up to create a cool eco-guide to environmentally friendly activities, restaurants and hotels in these major cities.  Check it out here.
   
   
2. Inquiring minds want to know all about hotels and tour operators’ eco-policies.  There are about 100 “eco-certifying” organizations, each with their own standards and definitions of eco-tourism.  Some are more stringent than others.  Ask the provider about their specific environmental initiatives and what are they doing to improve the well-being of the local people. Get the answers and then you be the judge. 
   
   
3. Greenhouse gas emissions.  One of those necessary evils incurred when embarking on an exotic adventure.  Because while you may have the energy to get there by bike, you probably don’t have the time.  Offset greenhouse gas emissions directly attributed to your travel by purchasing the equivalent amount in carbon credits.  Check it out here.
   
   
4. Make your hotel room your home away from home by changing your sheets and towels as often as they get changed at home.  And bring your own toiletries too, even if airport security is making it harder to do so.
   
   
5. Hotels are great for recharging energy stores.  For yourself.  And those rechargeable batteries which keep alkaline out of the landfill.
   
   
6. Pictures and video are great ways to remember all that fun. So are souvenirs created by the local community.  But say no to endangered plants and animal parts.
   
   
7. Bring an extra buddy for free.  A travel mug is the perfect companion.  Will hold practically anything.  Extra bonus:  it never complains.
   
   
8. Campfires are great for ambience and mood setting.  But Mother Nature prefers campstoves.  This is moot if you follow the raw food diet.  But keep Mother Nature happy by not harvesting your food from national parks.
   
   
9. Wild animals are kind of like some of the men we know.  Cute and fuzzy but best observed from afar.  Once you start feeding them for free, you’ll never get rid of them.  And definitely not meant to take home.