SIMPLE STEPS ON THE GO

• Reduce the number of miles you drive by walking, biking, carpooling or taking mass transit wherever possible:  Avoiding just 10 miles of driving every week would eliminate about 500 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions a year!
• Start a carpool with your coworkers or classmates:  Sharing a ride with someone just 2 days a week will reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by 1,590 pounds a year. eRideShare.com runs a free national service connecting commuters and travelers.
• When it is time for a new car, choose a more fuel efficient vehicle:  You can save 3,000 pounds of carbon dioxide every year if your new car gets only 3 miles per gallon more than your current one. You can get up to 60 miles per gallon with a hybrid!
• Fly Less!  Air travel produces large amounts of emissions so reducing how much you fly by even one or two trips a year can reduce your emissions significantly. You can also offset your air travel by investing in renewable energy projects.
• Check your tires weekly to make sure they’re properly inflated:  Proper inflation can improve gas mileage by more than 3%. Since every gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, every increase in fuel efficiency makes a difference!

Featured Travel Tips

• •   When it comes to flying, one of the first things you can do is offset the amount of toxic emissions produced by airplanes by purchasing what is called a "carbon offset." There are several companies that now provide this service, and it's not terribly expensive. You can now "Go Zero on Travelocity through our program with the Conservation Fund or visit them at www.gocarbonzero.org. Most often carbon offsets allow you to buy trees (the planting and sustaining thereof for a year's time). Trees go a long way in decreasing the amount of CO₂ that exists in the environment, which is literally the path to a greener world.
• •   As for road travel, the Better World's auto club membership serves as an alternative to the more well known AAA and provides many of the same services such as roadside assistance, maps, and discounts while promoting environmentally friendly practices. (For more information, visit www.betterworldclub.com.)
• •   Additionally, by only renting the size car you need, you may be able to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. Larger vehicles, such as SUVs require much more gasoline.
• •   Whether at home or on the road, eating locally is another great way to support the local economy and minimize your environmental impact. The shorter the distance food has to travel to your plate, the fewer greenhouse gases are emitted.
• •   When staying at a hotel, remember to shut off the TV and turn out the lights when you leave the room to conserve energy usage.
• •   Also take part in hotels' green-friendly programs such as recycling sheets and towels if they aren't in need of daily washing. Recycling and supporting recycled products is always encouraged.