Summer is rapidly approaching and so is a new season of increased travels and long-awaited vacations.  At a time when most traveling vacationers are out for a little rest and relaxation, they also tend to be less environmentally conscious creating greater amounts of waste than they normally do.

Does traveling really mean you have to abandon your efforts to maintain your green lifestyle?  Absolutely not keep on living green!

This article is the first in a three-part “green living” and traveling series being added to the Nature’s Green Remedy blog-site in the near future.

Green Living Traveling Preparations

So before you hit the train, plane or automobile, consider these tips as you get ready to embark on your travels:

• When preparing for a road trip, inspect your vehicle to be sure you are really ready to “hit the road” in the most fuel efficient way possible:
  • Take the vehicle in for an oil change and lubrication;
  • Check tire condition, wheel alignment and tire inflation; and
  • Wash/wax the vehicle (clean vehicles drive better!
• If you subscribe to a home newspaper delivery service, be sure to notify the publisher/delivery person of your departure or donate it to a neighbor in your absence;
• Remember to bring your own camera (digital if possible) on the trip to avoid purchasing multiple disposable versions.  If using a traditional film camera, use film rolls with a greater number of exposures (24 or 36) rather than the smaller 12 exposure rolls to save on waste materials.
• When heading out on the road, prepare sandwiches, snacks and drinks in bulk to keep in a cooler therefore cutting down on wrapper and container waste.
• If traveling by train, plane, bus or boat use electronic tickets (e-tickets) which not only generate less waste but also are far easier to replace.
• As each year passes, more and more car rental agencies are including high efficiency or alternative fuel vehicles in their fleets.  Make an effort to rent these eco-friendly vehicles whenever possible.
• Always try and book lodging accommodations in close proximity to planned outings to minimize vehicle use when feasible.

Much traveling occurring during the summer is related to time away from the daily grind but doesn’t mean there has to be a reduction in your green lifestyle.  Using any combination of the tips above when preparing to travel will definitely allow you to keep your personal “green living” standards.

And when you stop to think about your green living traveling preparations, they only reflect minimal changes to most people’s normal routines when getting ready to travel!