Just one thing
Protecting national parks
When visiting our national parks, there are a few easy tips you can use to help keep them pristine and make your impact as light as possible. First, always stick to the marked trails; when you go “off-trail,” you risk crushing vegetation and creating other unintentional damage. Also, consider visiting when it isn’t peak season for park visitation; a high influx of people can strain the landscape and overall infrastructure of the park.
Vacation for water heater
Did you know your water heater can also take a vacation? Maybe it can’t visit a faraway destination, but it can be set to use less energy when you place it on “vacation” or “away” mode. In some homes, a water heater can account for as much as 25% of your home’s overall energy usage. And as always, raise or lower your thermostat depending on the season; according to the Department of Energy, set it to 85 degrees in the summer and 50 degrees during colder months.
Eco-friendly travel tips
In addition to a swimsuit and sunscreen, consider adding these eco-additions to your carry-on bag when you travel. A lightweight reusable tote bag can come in handy when you’re shopping so you can skip disposable bags. A reusable water bottle can be used during the whole trip to help skip plastic bottle usage; refill it at airports, in hotels and even at restaurants. And consider bringing a multiuse bar soap that works as a shampoo and body wash so you don’t use mini amenity bottles. Break it up into small pieces so you’ll always have a fresh piece wherever you go.
Compensating for carbon emissions
You can compensate for emissions when you fly by buying something called “carbon offsets.” These purchases use your money to
“green” your travel by supporting forest protection or tree plantings. But since the carbon offset industry is unregulated, it’s important to make sure your purchase actually does what it was intended to do. Look for carbon offsets that are endorsed by independent groups like the Climate Action Reserve or the American Carbon Registry.
Not renting a car
Do you really need to rent a car when you travel? Not only can it be expensive to rent and park the car, it may be unnecessary in large cities. Research ahead of time to find out if there is public transport from the airport in your destination city. Look at rail and bus lines, and use apps to help plan your itinerary. Not only will you be greener, you’ll save money and a lot of time, too. Taking a train from Newark to New York City, for example, is often far cheaper and faster than taking a taxi.
Donating foreign currency
Leftover foreign currency — whether it’s Japanese yen or Mexican pesos or Canadian dollars — doesn’t have to live stashed away in a junk drawer at home. Collect all of your mixed foreign currency — coins and bills — from any country and donate it to UNICEF. Their Change for Good program takes your foreign currency and uses it to fund programs to support children all over the world who do not have access to education, food and clean water. Send your money to Change for Good Program, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, 125 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038. Include your name, address and email so they can send you a receipt for your donation for tax purposes.