How many people realize that by simply stepping on piece of land where bears roam, or by tossing piece of gum into the ocean or leaving lights on the hotel ‘because you’re not paying for it’…you are effecting the environment. Or shall we say infecting it!

Just because you’re out of your element, doesn’t mean the elements should be out of you. Our land is being tormented by pollution, overuse, global warming, tapping of resources and abusive behavior.  With the advancements of so many technologies and the incredible population growth that yearns more and more each day for more and more from the what our planet has to offer, there’s no mistaking it; we gotta go green.  Somebody please Save The Planet!

As a traveler, you can do your part.  At home, its easy to recycle and turn off lights when not in use.  But while being a visitor to another state or country, just a little common sense can go a long way in helping to reduce our impact on the world. 

Here are a few tips on how to make a positive difference in your travels:

1. Go paperless! Use online resources to plan and book your trip.

2. Unplug before you go! Appliances, computers, chargers, televisions and microwaves can waste as much as 10% of your electricity when idling by.

3. Book “New”! New hotels, cruise ships and motor coaches are more likely to feature state-of-the-art energy-saving features.

4. Lighten Up! Packing lightly not only makes it easier on your own personal “schlep factor”, it has a significant impact on the environment. Imagine how much fuel could be saved if every suitcase on a plane or a motor coach weighed 5 lbs less.

5. Bring your own water bottle! More than 60 million plastic water bottles are thrown away in theUSalone….EVERY DAY.

6. Purchase handicrafts from local artists when possible; buying cheap, mass-produced souvenirs undermines traditional cultures. But, don’t buy products that may be made of something endangered like elephant ivory or reptile skins.

7. Stay on the trail! It can be tempting to venture off the beaten path but such a veer can cause erosion to the soil, degrade animal habitats and water quality, destroy wildflowers and frighten or injure animals.

8. Lend a hand! Its ok to pick up a piece of trash that’s not yours, or to turn off a light in the public restroom as you leave (assuming no one’s still in a stall)

When traveling, live by this adage:  Take nothing but pictures….Leave nothing but footprints.