Tips for eco-friendly travel

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By JACKIE HUTCHERSON and DOUG KREUTZ/Lee Enterprises

Going on vacation doesn’t mean you should let your good green habits of home go on holiday, too. Take them with you.

Sure, it’s nice to live it up, spending nights in a hotel. The environment will survive just fine if you jump on the hotel-room bed.

But a careless excursion could damage natural resources, waste energy or even harm the very lands and cultures we journey to see.

Here are some things you can do to include shades of green in your vacation. These tips come from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Web sites focusing on environmentally conscious travel, and interviews with Daniel Grotta and Sally Wiener Grotta, co-authors of “The Green Travel Sourcebook: A Guide for the Physically Active, the Intellectually Curious, or the Socially Aware.”

Before you go

* Consider limiting the distance you travel. You’ll reduce your fuel or airfare expenses — and help cut pollution in the bargain.

* Book hotels and tours that participate in “green industry” associations such as Green Seal or Green Leaf.

* Take only what you need to keep your road-trip load lighter. Keep luggage inside the vehicle, rather than strapped on the roof where it will create wind resistance.

* Make sure your vehicle’s engine is tuned and its tires are properly inflated for maximum mileage per gallon.

* Unplug home appliances. They can use power even if they’re turned off.

* Adjust heating and cooling systems and water heaters to limit energy use.

* Temporarily stop newspaper deliveries or donate your papers to a school.

On the road

* Consider renting a hybrid vehicle or a highly fuel efficient conventional car. Read the fine print on rentals. “Green” doesn’t always mean hybrid.

* Drive to reduce fuel consumption by sticking to the speed limit and maintaining a smooth pace.

* Once at your destination, park the car and walk, ride a bike or use public transportation to reach nearby sites.

In the air

* Use electronic tickets instead of paper when booking a flight. They generate less waste and cost less to replace.

* Look into buying carbon emissions offsets, which help “make up” for the emissions caused by your flight through contributions to sustainable energy programs.

In the hotel

* Take a pass on having your hotel towels and sheets changed on a daily basis. You don’t change your linens at home every day, do you?

* Turn off the lights and TV when you leave your hotel room. If you need a light at night, traveling with a night-light is an eco-friendly alternative to leaving the bathroom light on with the door ajar.

* Set your hotel room thermostat to 68 degrees in winter, 78 degrees in summer.

* Close the drapes to keep out sunlight in places with hot climates; open them to let the sun warm your room in chilly climes.

* Charge when needed. Cellphone and laptop power adapters and other electrical devices drain power whenever they’re plugged in, even if not in use. Only 5 percent of the power used by an average cell phone charger is used to charge the phone; the rest is wasted energy.

* Remember to recycle. More hotels are adding in-room recycling bins. If there isn’t a newspaper recycling program in your hotel, drop your freshly read paper by the front desk for someone else to read. Sharing’s a great way to recycle.

* Use electronic checkout programs to reduce paper waste.

While sightseeing

* Leave a light footprint — literally. Stay on marked trails and walkways, avoid walking on fragile terrain and take care not to trample crops or gardens.

* Pick up only maps and brochures that you will actually use. Share when possible.

* Avoid disposable cameras and other disposable products, which contribute to waste.

* Don’t disturb wildlife.

* Never buy products made from endangered species.

* Shop local: Head to local markets, where you can purchase fresh food from local vendors. This benefits the community by increasing their economy, and you will get fresh fruits and veggies and maybe even some handmade souvenirs.

* Visit popular areas like national parks in the off season. You’re away from the crowds and lessen the impact that heavy use of resources can have on the environment. Visit www.nps.gov.

* Bring a “to go” cup to coffee houses and a reusable water bottle when you head to the beach. Styrofoam coffee cups and plastic water bottles are non-biodegradable trash. Some coffee houses will give you a discount if you bring your own cup.