By Lorraine Sanders
Two of the biggest buzz words in travel today are carbon and offsetting. No longer the domain of hardcore environmentalists, carbon offsetting programs have rocketed from relative obscurity a year or so ago into one of travel's hottest trends. Travelers can now donate small amounts of money to offset or neutralize the carbon emissions released into the atmosphere by the planes they fly, cars they drive or hotels they stay in.
But as more and more carbon offsetting programs launch and mainstream travel companies like Travelocity and Expedia add carbon offsets to their travel inventory, consumers have started asking tough questions about carbon offsets. Without industry-wide standards or a primary regulatory body to police carbon offset programs, travelers are often left to wonder where their money is going and how much positive impact their donations really have on the environment.
Carbon offsetting is, no doubt, a noble idea that travelers will likely continue to embrace, especially as the industry becomes more transparent and standardized in the coming years. But with all the hoopla surrounding this quickie antidote to environmental damage, it's easy to forget that there are other proven ways we travelers can reduce our carbon footprints and help the environment - often without spending a dime.
1. Choose "green" accommodations. While carbon offset programs are just gaining traction, many states and countries already have well-established certification processes for environmentally-responsible hotels and resorts. Check with organizations like the International Ecotourism Society, California's Green Lodging Directory or Florida's Green Lodging Directory by state to start your search.
2. Reuse hotel sheets and towels. You know those signs in hotel bathrooms urging you to conserve water and energy by reusing towels and linens? This is a cost-free way for travelers to make a positive, albeit small, environmental impact by conserving water and energy.
3. Ride hybrid. EV Rental Cars offers fleets of hybrid vehicles in popular destinations cities like San Francisco , Las Vegas, Phoenix, Los Angeles and San Diego. Instead of hopping in gas-guzzling taxis in San Francisco and Boston, travelers can reserve hybrid cabs through PlanetTran.
4. Brave public transportation. In addition to reducing your carbon footprint, public transportation has many other merits. In cities like London or New York and throughout much of Europe, public transportation is cheaper and less stressful than driving. Riding buses, trains and undergrounds will also give you a much more authentic perspective on your destination city and its inhabitants than driving solo or sticking solely to cabs.
5. Eat and shop local. When you're exploring a new city, look for restaurants and stores that promote locally-sourced produce, ingredients and products. Food, goods and souvenir items that come from nearby farms, artisans and other producers travel shorter distances to reach you, the consumer, and, consequently, results in fewer carbon emissions associated with shipping and packaging products for long haul travel.