Green

The vitality and necessity of staying at eco-resorts – Reasons to stay in one

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By the definition of this word, an eco-resort is the type of lodging facility which puts in efforts to minimize its carbon footprint while giving back to the environment. For some people, this definition would definitely be too lenient and unprofessional. With the growing numbers of eco-resorts in small, uninhabited and tropical locations, the marine environment is all that helps such locations earn their daily living.

Although there are Vitality Resorts which can alter your entire travel experience, yet there are many more necessary things that are offered by green resorts which make them a better place to live in. Read on to know more on eco-friendly resorts.

Eco-resort – What should you expect from them?

Well, there are enough of them but in order to stay in one, you don’t require flying half-way through the world to enjoy the essence of eco-resorts. There are several lodging facilities in the US which are all environment-friendly. Among them, there are few which reach out to extreme measures to remain sustainable. Do you want to know about some of their policies? Here are few.

  • No usage of bug repellants or chemical fragrances
  • No smoking
  • You have to either leave your shoes near the door or cover them with neoprene booties lest you bring in pollutants from outdoor
  • You have to leave your personal belongings like grooming objects at home as you’ll be given all organic products

There are many who give in their best efforts to travel to a place to seep in the green culture and this is why it is said that sustainability and tourism go hand in hand. When the ultimate reasons for commuting to a certain area are eliminated, the accomodation facilities will also close. The resorts which are eager to retain their base of customers, they will abide by the environment-friendly policies and assist the local surroundings. Hence, even though you might require emitting a little bit of carbon to drive to a green place, it’s all that you should do as that is what matters.

How to know whether or not a resort is an eco-friendly one

Firstly, you could ask the resort authorities whether or not it is an eco-resort. Or you can directly ask for the valuable opinions of the past guests through the social networking sites. In majority of the states which focus on sustainability, they are usually proud of the efforts and they take a step ahead to promote their efforts. There are even some that feature a green page on their company website. Some others might seek a 3rd party certification and this is one of the best ways of ensuring that your resort is eco-friendly.

So, you require doing your homework and reading up the principles and policies of the places which you’re visiting. But in case you’re an adventurous person and wish to retain things for your next generation, think of spending free nights at the Maldives.

Going green while traveling – Tips to ensure you spend an eco-friendly vacation

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Initially, traveling the ‘green’ way takes enough effort at the beginning but once you begin traveling in the greener way, this will soon become your second nature and the extra steps that you take will keep improving the quality of your trip. You will not only feel good about your trips but this will also leave back a positive impression on the place which you visited but also offer you with too many meaningful memories throughout your life.

Apart from seeking help of Discount Vacation Card to slash off the rate of traveling, there are many other ways in which you can go green and end up with a better travel experience. Check them out.

During the stage of planning

Selecting an ethical destination is probably the first step to take. The non-profit organization, Ethical Traveler ranks each destination by their standards of protecting the environment, human rights record and social welfare record. You can check out “Addendum: Destinations of Interest” to widen your choice and check out the countries which rank within Top 10. Your tourism dollar supports all efforts to create and encourage other destinations.

Preferring a green hotel over a non-green one can also set a positive impact. There are certified green hotels which are in LEED Certified buildings, which utilize renewable energy, recycle thins and utilize eco-friendly cleaning products which gives guests an option to set an impact. You may even stay in hotels that are run locally and they are most often the greenest ways that are possible.

Touring with a green tour company and traveling with an independent guide can be the best way to make sure your money is doing the best for the economy of your destination. When you watch out for a tour company, look for the following:

  • The company should promote all sorts of ethical practices
  • They should leverage green office products
  • They should respect the local flora and fauna
  • They should have contributed enough to the community
  • They should take into account political and social issues that are destination-specific

While you’re traveling on road

Use public transport or walk while you travel on road as this can cut down the environmental effect and also give you the opportunity to meet locals. Rather than renting a car, move into a local bus or take a countryside bike ride.

Avoid using plastic water bottles as they are no longer safe to drink. You can instead carry a water filter like the ones that are powered by battery. If you carry with you a wide-mouthed bottle, you may treat water by the liter.

Eat food that is sourced locally as this will make you support the farmers of the region. Watch out for those restaurants which promote local food and even cook local dishes.

Hence, if you’re someone who is interested in saving the environment from getting tampered, choose to travel in the ‘green’ way. Follow the above mentioned tips and advices to complete a green tour successfully.

Are You Doing Your Part for the Environment?

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In trying to help keep the environment as clean and healthy as possible, what role are you playing?

For many individuals, it can mean a variety of ways going about contributing to a better world.

In your efforts, do you help with recycling, cleaning up local parks, or even keeping oceans clean?

No matter the effort you make, know that it is helping in some small way.

Seeing Wildlife in Its Natural Setting

One of the ways to best help do your part for the environment is by learning all you can.

Would eco-friendly whale watching tours teach you more about these incredible mammals? In fact, such tours very well could do that.

If you go on such a whale watching tour, learn first-hand what it takes for whales to survive. A quality whale watching tour provider makes sure whales are not bothered on tours.

Second, such an experience allows you to ask questions of the tour provider in what they are doing on land too.

Among the questions to ask:

· Are they recycling on a regular basis?

· Do they believe in composting?

· Are they involved in local community’s efforts to educate humans about animals?

By being inquisitive about tour providers and their activities, you can do your part.

Being an Advocate for a Healthier Planet

While you are only one person, do not let that stop you from doing your part to make for a better environment.

As an example, use the Internet to promote green living and also helping wildlife thrive.

One way to go about this is by starting an eco-friendly blog.

Not only can you pull resources from others doing the same, but you can also add your thoughts.

Have you seen eco-friendly actions taking part in your hometown? Have you started any on your own? What are some of the needs around where you live to better protect the environment and wildlife?

By writing about and discussing such issues, you are making your contribution.

You can also contribute via your social media outlets.

Whether on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or other social sites, promote the environment.

For example, if you go on a whale watching tour, share your experiences on social media.

This not only includes some comments, but also pictures and even videos. By allowing others to see first-hand how these mammals live, they are better educated. In turn, it can propel some individuals to want to help make sure wildlife survives.

By doing your part to help the environment, you can feel better about protecting it.

So, are you ready to roll up your sleeves and get to work on having a planet everyone can enjoy and prosper from?

If so, do your best to get educated before you take any action.

By learning about where the needs are most prevalent will help you to better contribute.

If it is the oceans or other waterways, whale watching and other such activities can prove to be great educational opportunities.

Do Your Part for the Environment When Traveling

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If you are someone who loves traveling, you join countless other people around the globe.

Traveling to familiar or new places can be exhilarating on several different levels.

With that being the case, you also want to do your best not to leave too big of a footprint in the places you go. This is especially true when it comes to nature.

So, will you do your part for the environment when hitting the road?

See Where You Can Make an Impact

In doing your part for the environment on trips, first see if you can find discount travel tours.

Doing so will help you not only save money, it will in all hopes take your mind off of spending too much money on your trip. When you’re not worried about your trip expenditures, you have more time to focus on other things. One such thing is helping the environment while away from home.

Among some of the ways to go about that:

· When out in nature – No matter where you go on your travels, find a way to do your part for nature. As an example, if you go on a weekend trip to the mountains, lake, river, ocean or desert, be sure to clean up after yourself. Leaving behind bottles, cans, and plastic bags can be detrimental to the wildlife where you go. Also look to see if certain items or substances have a ban from any of these areas. If they are, there is likely a good reason behind the banning.

· Burning fires – If you plan on a weekend trip to the mountains, don’t be the one who has a fire that can be havoc for wildlife. Be sure to know if fires have the go-ahead where you plan to camp or hike etc. If they are not, don’t start one. Not only could you be doing damage to the environment, but you could end up getting fined and even arrested.

· Teaching your children – When taking your kids with you, pass along tips on how to help the environment. Doing so allows you to pass on your knowledge in what you’ve learned over the years. Your children should have a better appreciation for the environment as a result. Show them in a visit to the ocean how dolphins and other marine life can suffer when people throw items in the water. Even if your child picks up only one environmental tip from this vacation, consider it a victory.

Document Your Travels

As part of your travel, be sure to document where you go through pictures and even a journal.

In doing your part to better protect the environment; such work will help you to see how things change over time. As such, you can get a better feel for if things are improving or going in the opposite direction.

Last, do what you can to speak out when needed.

If you spot one or more things on your next trip that are not good for the environment, let locals know about it.

You do that by writing a letter and sending pictures to the proper authorities or using social media.

No matter how you get the message out, make sure your trips are not hurting the environment.

What is CA DMV doing for Greener Driving?

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For better and for worse, California tends to lead the pack when it comes to environmental issues, and that’s certainly the case when it comes to the California DMV. Luckily, rather than a whole series of unaffordable fines and fees, the DMV tends to use a little more carrot and a little less stick to encourage more environmentally sound driving. Here are a few of the programs they have in play:

Decals

California uses a decal system, offering drivers white and green decals. White decals are awarded for zero-emission and low emission vehicles. Automobiles manufactured after 2003 can qualify upon application based on exhaust emission levels. Green decals are awarded for AR PZEV and TZEV vehicles, being autos meeting, respectively, the state’s “Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission” standards, or “Transitional Zero-Emission” standards. You can apply to the DMV at any time for the decals.

Decal Rewards

If you have a decal on your car, you’re able to reap certain privileges while out on the road. The big one is free parking, which is kind of a big deal in many West Coast cities.

In some cities, decaled autos are allowed free parking. Sacramento will reward you for a 100% electric car with free parking and recharging in certain designated spots. San Jose will offer free parking to anyone with a white or green decaled car purchased in San Jose. Hermosa Beach offers free parking at any meter for 100% alternative fuel-powered autos. Finally, Santa Monica offers free parking at any meter for white, green and ZEV cars.

HOT Exemption

HOT stands for High-Occupancy Toll. HOT exemptions allow you to drive on HOT toll roads without having to pay a dime. There are exceptions based on federal prohibitions, but this generally makes it a lot cheaper to get up and down the coast.

Financial Assistance for Repairs

If you can bring your auto up to code for safer emissions, you can collect up to five hundred dollars to help with the smog check through the Consumer Assistance Program. Not all vehicles can be brought up to code, of course. If your car just isn’t going to make the cut, there are always…

Cash Incentives to Buy a New Car

Hybrids are pricey. But, there are programs that should help to ease the financial burden just a bit. If you own a vehicle that isn’t really worth repairing or selling, you can voluntarily retire it for a cash incentive of $1,000 to $1,500. It’s not exactly a free hybrid, but it’s quite a bit more than the seventy, eighty bucks you’d probably collect for selling it to a scrapyard.

In addition to the programs offered directly through the DMV, there are also countless discounts available through insurance providers. Not every insurer sees the value in green driving, of course, so you will have to shop around, but if you’ve made an effort to drive a car that’s a little kinder to the environment then it’s worth looking for an insurance provider who will acknowledge that. Along with taking traffic school online, going green is one of the easiest ways to lower your insurance costs in the state of California.

Usually when California rolls out some new eco-friendly initiatives we all get a little stressed wondering what new fees we’re going to have to pay for not watering our lawns with filtered water. In the case of green driving incentives, however, there’s little to complain about.

Go Green: Finding Nature in a City

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The benefits of city living are clear, with the number of people living in cities expected to double by 2050. From being within close proximity of everything you could possibly need to have access to diverse entertainment, cities draw people from far and wide.

However, there’s nothing quite like the relaxing feeling you get when you immerse yourself in nature. And studies have even demonstrated that losing your connection with nature can have an adverse effect on your happiness and overall well-being.

So, whether you’re staying somewhere like the Downtown Philadelphia Hotel Marriott or you’ve been living in a city for a while, here are some of the best ways to find nature wherever you go:

Head Off the Beaten Track

A lot of cities will have great trails that connect the heart of the city to its surrounding suburbs, but these are often crowded, congested, and don’t provide you with that feeling of “freedom.” So, try to find hidden paths, routes, and roads that take you away from the hustle and bustle. Even if you don’t actually leave the city, tree-lined paths can make you feel as though you’ve escaped it for a while because they provide a sound barrier from the traffic and noise of the city.

Find a Park

Even though parks aren’t found in abundance in cities, there will still be some hidden away somewhere. Think Central Park in New York and Fairmount Park in Philadelphia. Every city, by law, will have to have reserved some of its space for recreation and parks, which is why these are often luscious green spaces that you can lose yourself in. Although it may seem obvious that these are the most accessible green spaces for city dwellers, they’re often underused so you’ll probably find yourself enjoying this space in peace and quiet.

Embrace Winter

Even if you’re traveling to a city in winter, it’s important to brace the cold weather and venture outside. Granted, heavy snowfall and below-zero temperatures can make this a bit of a challenge, but it can also feel incredibly exhilarating when you’re outside in the cold, crisp air. What’s more, when the snow does fall, cities often become a playground for activities, from building snowmen to snowshoeing, so get involved and embrace nature and winter in one.

Be Spontaneous

If you’re keen to find nature in a city, don’t make this into an arduous chore where you spend more time planning your escape than enjoying it. Add a bit of spontaneity into the mix, doing something in the spur of the moment. Get outside, head off on your own little route and see what adventure you can find – you might just surprise yourself.

Thankfully, finding nature in a city need not be hard as many places will have adopted some green spaces in the surrounding areas. All you need to do is embrace your adventurous side and get exploring these areas. Then, once you’ve headed off the beaten track you’ll feel at one with nature, leaving all the worries of the city behind.

How to Start Travelling Greener for More Sustainable Travel

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Sustainability and eco-friendly approaches are now considered important factors in most aspects of our lives. In particular, commuting and travel are seen as the biggest contributors of carbon emissions which is enough to make any eco-conscious traveller feel a little uneasy. But thankfully it is possible to enjoy the adventure of your travels and getaways while still making a positive contribution to the wellbeing of our beautiful world. In this post I will share with you six easy ways to travel greener that will not only enhance your trips, they’ll make you feel better about yourself too!

How to Adopt more Sustainable Travel

As with other forms of caring for the environment such as recycling our trash and living more sustainably, green travel may take some changes on your part, but it soon becomes second nature. We all know of the carbon footprint caused by a flight from New York to Paris, for example, but there is also lots we can do to mitigate. Best of all, sustainable travelling may even end up allowing you to have more meaningful experiences through deeper interactions with the places you visit. So if you’re wondering whether it’s actually possible to enjoy travelling yet still travel in a more sustainable way, check out the tips below:

Green Travel Tips

Look out for More Ethical Travel Destinations

A good way to make your journeys more sustainable is by choosing to visit or stay at more ethical conscious destinations. There are many countries that are promoting more environmentally friendly policies to protect the wildlife and plants found in popular destinations. In fact there are online resources such as Ethical Traveller that rank destinations according to their eco-credentials. Supporting such countries and resorts helps to protect the environment and goes a long way to show that sustainable practices work.

Be Mindful of how you get there

Getting to your destination is possibly one of the easiest ways through which your carbon footprint could increase. Some ways you can reduce the effects is by booking non-stop flights whenever possible, or sharing a vehicle if other friends or family are driving to the same place. More radical but interestingly different to a flight from San Francisco to Paris is travelling by train or ship. With flying, some airlines also have carbon offset programs, while hiring electric and hybrid vehicles for your trip will also cut down on emissions.

Choose Green Hotels

As the world has become more environmentally conscious, so has the number of eco-friendly hotels and accommodation. Top tips for finding green hotels include finding out if they are certified by organisations such as Green Globe and the Rainforest Alliance, as well as checking the hotel’s recycling policy and sustainability programs. Other important factors include where and how the hotel’s resources are sourced, and whether they offer low impact eco accommodation.

To conclude, we can add other simple but useful habits such as using refillable water bottles, taking shorter showers, and making the most of sharing economy apps. From accommodation to travel and giving back to the places you visit, there are many more ways we can all play our part in addition to the above. These ideas show that with a little change in the way we travel sustainable trips are indeed possible.

3 Tips to Make Your Road Trip More Eco-Friendly

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One of the great things you can do in life is to take a road trip. I mean, think about it for a second. You’ll get to see parts of the world you’d otherwise never see if you travelled by plane somewhere, you’re on the ground and you’re experiencing everything as it is, there and then as you drive past it. There’s no aerial views, there’s no crying baby noises in the background, just you, your friends/family/partner, and the world as it was meant to be seen, from the ground.

Travel is something that has grown and grown in popularity in the last few years with more and more people from all around the globe going travelling in one form or another. It’s estimated that 1.2 billion people worldwide travelled in 2015 and if even 10% of those people which is 120 million people, made a conscious effort to be more environmentally friendly, global warming would undoubtedly see the benefits.

Here we have 3 great tips for you if you’re planning a road trip to make it as eco-friendly as possible so that you can travel with peace of mind knowing that you’re doing your bit and if you’re travelling from the UK, or within the UK, you’re not playing as big a contributing part to global warming, which apparently the UK is the largest contributor to in the world based on a per capita calculation.

The Car – Pre-Trip Checks

This is a fairly obvious one to consider before you hit the road but many people neglect this and assume that their car is fuel efficient and provided they’ve no lights on the dashboard, they won’t think there’s any issues. Well, you don’t have a light telling you to change your air filter but it’s something to consider checking before you set off on your journey as a dirty air filter can reduce your car’s fuel efficiency by 20%.

Something else to consider if your car tyres. Generally, people look at their tyres, see they aren’t flat and that’ll do them for peace of mind. Well, if your car tyres aren’t inflated properly, it can have a detrimental effect on your miles per gallon which won’t help your wallet very much when you’re having to fill up more often. If you’re unsure about how to check your tyre pressure and making sure that they’re correctly inflated, here’s a handy tyre pressure guide.

Your Load – Watch What You Pack

This is something that you may not consider having an effect on the performance of your car but, actually it does. Ensuring that you pack as lightly as possible for your trip will go a long way to bettering the performance of your car. If you add an extra 20 to 30 pounds of luggage in your vehicle, it will make you much less fuel efficient and if you have a roof rack box on your car, it can reduce your fuel efficiency by up to 25% and will also have an effect on your miles per gallon performance as they interfere with the aerodynamics of your car.

Your Route – Plan Ahead

If you can, try to avoid the urge to just go out and hit the road without a plan in place. If you plot and plan your route ahead of schedule and before you leave, you will be able to find the quickest and best route to your destination in order to save fuel. Not only will this improve your carbon footprint, it’ll likely also go some way to saving your stress levels.

If you’re fortunate enough to have a modern car, the chances are it will have some form of cruise control built in. If that’s the case, utilise it. If you use cruise control as often as possible, it’ll maintain your car’s speed during your time on the motorway, highway or wherever it is that you may be travelling to. This means that it will use the petrol more efficiently and it’ll take a bit of stress off you too which is always a win, win.

Hopefully, you found these tips useful and helpful and they go some way toward helping you make better, more environmentally friendly choices prior to, during and after your road trip.

Cutting Costs and Emissions When Travelling Through Spain

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Travelling can be very expensive, and most options aren’t green either. It is possible to travel in a green and low-cost way though – here’s how.

 

Travel by Rail

 

Train travel is a great way of getting around Spain if you’re looking to travel the length and breadth of the country. Going between cities by bus is possible and maybe slightly cheaper, but you’ll spend a lot longer traveling. And that means you’ll have a lot less time to do the fun things.

 

If you’re thinking of travelling to lots of town and cities, and maybe even to other neighbouring countries such as France, you should definitely buy a rail pass. This will take a lot of the cost of train travel away. I wouldn’t recommend hiring a car; it’s expensive and not very green!

 

Choose Alternative Accommodation

 

As you’d expect, Spain is packed full of great hotels, but they’re not cheap. If you want to cut the costs of accommodation while in Spain, you should think about looking at other options and avoiding hotels altogether. The other options available to you are just as good but a lot cheaper.

 

So what are your options? If you’re staying in the big cities, there are lots. For example, there are lots of holiday apartments in Barcelona. You can just rent one out for the duration of your stay. You get more space than in a hotel, at a lower price. Or if you want something really low-cost, you could stay in hostels.

 

Take Your Bike

 

It’s a good idea to move between cities by using the train as I mentioned above, but when you’re getting around the towns and cities themselves, it’s best to use a bike. Spain’s streets are pretty safe and accommodating for cyclists so you have nothing to worry about as long as you stay safe and wear a helmet.

 

You’ll also save a lot of money. The last thing you want to do is waste your money on taxi fares. Walking is a possibility in some cities, but not the ones that are more spread out. If you don’t feel like cycling a lot of cities have underground metro systems that are pretty cheap.

 

Eat as the Locals Do

 

In Spain, eating food in the evening is a lot more expensive that it is during the day. That’s why a lot of people in Spain have a small breakfast, a large lunch and a small evening meal. This makes the cost of eating much cheaper than if you made your evening meal your main one.

 

There are a few other local secrets you can use to bring down the cost of eating in Spain. Firstly, don’t be lured into the big restaurants in cities like Madrid and Barcelona, they’re tourist traps. Instead find the small places to eat in. Secondly, in some cities you can get tapas for free with every alcoholic drink you buy. You might have to get drunk too, but it’s a great way of getting a free meal.

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Make sure you follow these tips if you want a green and low-cost holiday in Spain!

The Facts About Electric Cars

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With so much misinformation uttered about electric cars and so many claims and counter-claims put forth about their environmental friendliness, it’s important that if you want to enter the market for an electric car, you have all the information and all the facts. It’s a fast growing market in developed nations, with thousands of plug-in and all-electric vehicles sold in the United States alone every single month. And there are compelling reasons why electric cars are proving so popular, given their value both to the individual driver and to the wider environment.

Efficient Transportation

As the number of makes and models of electric cars keeps on rising, it is becoming increasingly clear that vehicles powered on electricity are widely perceived as the future. Sales are rocketing and there are many good reasons why this is the case, with consumer demand racing higher and higher, and the interest put into electric cars by manufacturers consistently high. Most fundamentally, electric vehicles have the enormous benefit of being a highly efficient mode of transport, with as much as 80 per cent of the battery’s energy transferred directly to the power of the car. In traditional gas-powered vehicles the figure is dramatically lower, lingering at around 14 to 26 per cent. Furthermore electric cars emit no exhaust pollutants when they are running on electricity, making them far cleaner for the environment than petrol-powered vehicles.

Cost Savings

While electric cars are notoriously more expensive than their petrol-fuelled counterparts, this is becoming less and less the case. The battery is of course one of the most expensive parts of an electric vehicle, however technological advances have seen the cost of the battery decline at a significant rate. A 100-mile range electric battery has decreased in cost by over 60% in the United States in the last five years, and with more research going into this field that trend looks set to continue. However what many consumers who feel hindered by the price tag on an electric car often forget is that electric vehicles are not all that expensive to maintain, meaning they will be able to save money over the life of the car. Even the brake pads last longer in electric cars as they use regenerative braking to decelerate, converting energy used to reduce the car’s speed into power which is stored in the battery. The cost of electricity is moreover far less damaging to the pocket in the long run than the cost of gasoline, making for even bigger savings. Most electric vehicle owners also take steps to reduce their costs, such as charging their cars overnight at home when the electricity costs are lower.