Here's How to Take The Earth With You
These tips can make you truly earth-friendly, no matter where you go.
Before You Leave Home
- Turn your water heater to "vacation" or lowest setting
- Turn off AC/heat or adjust the thermostat to protect plants, etc.
- Turn water off at outside connection (to prevent flooding should a pipe break while you're gone). When you return, turn on the water slowly and check for problems.
- Appliances, such as TVs and cable converter boxes, should be unplugged because they can draw or "leak" as much as 40 watts per hour even when they're off.
- Turn your icemaker to the "off" position by lifting the wire. This can prevent flooding should it break while you're away.
At the Hotel or Restaurant
- Participate in hotel linen programs, or let the hotel know that it's not necessary to change your sheets and towels every day
- Reduce the amount of water you use for bathing or showering
- When you leave your hotel room, turn off the AC/heat, lights, TV and radio and close the drapes
- Participate in hotel recycling programs by placing recyclables in appropriate bins
- Leave little bottles of amenities in the guestroom if unopened
- Keep bar soap wrappers and take used bars of soap home
- Let hotel management know, by speaking directly to management or writing them a note, that you want them to conserve and that you want to participate
- Patronize hotels, airlines, tour operators who support "greening" programs
- Instead of leaving bathroom lights (and fans) on all night, it's wise to pack night lights for hotel stays
- If the hotel provides complimentary newspapers, pass yours on to someone else, or leave it in the lobby for another reader. Ask the hotel to see that it's recycled
- Be sure to turn off exercise equipment, sauna, whirlpool, Jacuzzi or tennis court lights when you're through
- Check out with the hotel's electronic program available on the TV in some hotels. You can view your bill, approve it, and help reduce paperwork
- In any restaurant, refuse Styrofoam. If necessary, travel with your own cup or container for leftovers
- Choose restaurants that serve organic and locally grown food and produce
Here are two Web sites that offer green travel information
Send us your green travel tips. We'd like to share them on our site.
Email:
steve.pinetti@kimptongroup.com
