Green travel ideas from two environmentally conscious travelers

Driving is far less harmful than flying, but if you have your heart set on enjoying a vacation in Hawaii, the only way to get there, really, is to fly.

Unfortunately, though, there is no such thing as a green airline as yet, so its really a choice between the lesser of the evils.

To help you decide, ResponsibleShopper.org has come up with a report which ranks 11 major airlines on the basis of their recycling efforts.

The study, titled “What Goes Up Must Come Down, The Sorry State of Recycling in the Airline Industry” says that US airlines generate over 880 million pounds of waste annually - 75% of which could be recycled, but only 20% is.

Here’s the ranking:-
 1. Delta Airlines (B-)
 2. Virgin America (B-)
 3. Virgin Atlantic (C)
 4. Southwest Airlines (C)
 5. Continental Airlines (D)
 6. Jetblue (D)
 7. American Airlines (D)
 8. British Airways (D)
 9. Air Tran (D)
10. United Airlines (F)
11. US Airways (F)

You can download the full study here (registration required). You can also read more about how to reduce your flights’ environmental impact.

It’s often ironic or sarcastic when someone says that one man can make a difference.

But what if the subject is climate change and that one man is… Al Gore? VP Gore can and has made a difference all by himself, but the torch has now been passed to Bill Gates.

You can see the video of his TED speech here. The sum of it is that Bill Gates stood in front of a slideshow with a picture of the earth and a zero, and convinced everyone present as to the feasability of reducing emissions for each person on the planet down to zero.

Bill Gates broke it up into a PSEC formula, where P stands for People (as in population); S for services (airconditioners, refrigirators, etc); E for Efficiency (fuel efficiency, green buildings, etc); and C for the CO2 emissions per unit of energy.

The first two will actually add to emissions growth, and Bill Gates mentions that people should be able to use more services - not cut back. So the future doesn’t necessarily involve developed nations going back to the caves, with people cutting back on travel or using dirty towels and sheets in hotels.

The third one - E, will help reduce emissions, but the focus was on the last one - C, and this is where his zero kicks in. He calls for research and funding to create electrical grids based on clean energy with zero emissions.

To be noted that there was no techonological breakthrough, nor a gathering of world leaders like COP15. It’s just that when Bill Gates says it, and promises to throw the full financial muscle of his foundation - the biggest in the world, to make it happen, it seems more likely to happen. And the word spreads.

So now the climate change CW is shifting from incremental change to zero emissions for each person on the planet.

The 2010 Winter Olympics gets underway in Vancouver in a few hours on Feb 12, and VANOC - the organizing commitee, has gone to great lengths to ensure the event is as green as can be.

The Vancouver Olympics will have a 15% smaller carbon footprint than normal. They built venues which live up to LEED standards, and they’re encouraging use of public transportation. Like the Eco-Ironman, 100% carbon neutral athletes are participating in the Games.

It’s the greenest ever, actually, as Olympic events go. But how green is that? Newsweek gets it perfectly right in this one line - “calling the Games the “greenest ever” might lead one to believe that the net effect will be similar to planting thousands of acres of Amazonian rainforest.”

Inspite of VANOC’s admirable efforts, the Games will still produce 268,000 tons of carbon emissions - 150,000 of which is directly attributable to travel. Thousands of people have already flown in and are living in hotels in Vancouver.

So VANOC got itself an official carbon offset sponsor - Offsetters, to balance the 118,000 tons of emissions caused by VANOC operations. This still does not include the 150,000 tons from travel.

Offsetters does have a voluntary offset program where travelers can calculate and offset their own share of the event’s footprint.

Going to a theme park? A water theme park like SeaWorld? Nice family-friendly attraction, get to fool around with goofy dolphins and cute seals, kids love it and all that.

But just like you don’t want to see how the sausage gets made, so it is with the dolphins in theme parks around the world. You don’t wanna know how they get there.

You can’t hide from it anymore, though, because The Cove just went mainstream with an Oscar nomination for best documentary, and you’ll be seeing and hearing a lot more about it in the weeks to come.

It’s not hard to fathom why, because Director Louie Psihoyos - with his 18 years of National Geographic experience, has put together a masterful graphic expose of the dolphin industry in Taiji, Japan. 23,000 dolphins are rounded up for being shipped to water parks, or slaughtered for meat.

What makes it even more arresting is that the entire film was made while trying to stay one step ahead of the local authorities and the fishermen, who wanted to keep the whole thing under wraps.

Let’s just say that once you see The Cove, it’ll be a bit harder to enjoy the pleasures of SeaWorld and other water parks. Just to clarify, theme parks in the US do not import dolphins - there’s a law against it.

But it does happen in other countries, and it’s hard to get past the disconnect between the disturbing imagery in The Cove and the frolicking fun in the theme parks.

One thing that might help is to verify that the water park or aquarium you’re visiting does not have any properties outside the US which deal with imported dolphins. It’s no more of a hassle than selecting an eco-friendly hotel, and it will help you enjoy the theme park without any guilt.

Water conservation by itself doesn’t make for an eco-friendly golf course. Ever wonder how many golf balls must be soaking at the bottoms in the water hazards in golf courses?

Hint - it takes between 100 to 1000 years for a golf ball to decompose naturally, and around 300 million golf balls are lost each year in the US alone.

But now there’s a solution - EcoBioBall aka biodegradable golf balls. Not only do these balls dissolve when dunked into the water, but they’re also made of fish food. So every time you hit a ball into a water hazard, you have an excuse - you’re feeding the fish.

The concept behind Albus Golf’s EcoBioBall is neat and simple. Once it hits the water, the outer layer (made of recyclable plastic polymer) dissolves within 48 hours, releasing the fish-food inside.

Albert Buscato, CEO of Albus Golf, tells CNN that since it is a single-use ball, the cost will be considerably lower than the average golf ball and Buscato is confident this means the “goldfish-friendly” option will be a hit with buyers.

Of course, its going to be a while before something like this makes its way into championship golf. But it is good for practise, when you’re trying to get past the water hazards. It is also perfect for cruises, where you no longer need to be afraid of losing the ball or polluting the oceans.

More details here - www.albusgolf.com/

The Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Award Winners for 2009 were announced on Nov 11 at the World Travel Market.

Whale Watch Kaikoura, from New Zealand, was judged to be the overall winner.

Here’s the full list of winners:-

Overall winner - Whale Watch Kaikoura, New Zealand
Best tour operator for cultural engagement - Village Ways, India
Best large hotel / accommodation - YHA Wellington City, New Zealand
Best small hotel / accommodation - Rivertime Resort and Ecolodge, Laos
Best low carbon transport & technology - Alcatraz Cruises, US
Best in a mountain environment  - Upland Escapes, UK
Best in a marine environment - Whale Watch Kaikoura, New Zealand
Best cruise or ferry operator - Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, US
Best for poverty reduction - Guludo Beach Lodge, Mozambique
Best for conservation of wildlife & habitats - Great Plains Conservation, South Africa
Best for conservation of cultural heritage - Selena Travel LLC, Mongolia
Best volunteering organisation - People and Places, UK
Best destination  - City of Cape Town, South Africa
Best personal contribution - Gavin Bate, Founder of Adventure Alternative and the Moving Mountains Trust

For more details, visit www.responsibletourismawards.com/; Photo courtesy Whale Watch Kaikoura

When the World Monuments Fund (WMF) announced its 2010 Watch list of endangered monuments, no one batted an eyelid. After all, monuments which are older than your great great grandpa are supposed to start cracking up.

But closer inspection reveals that 15 out of 93 monuments are actually from the 20th century.

Wiener Werkbundsiedlung - Vienna, Austria (1920s–1930s)
Sanatorium Joseph Lemaire - Overijse, Belgium (1937–1987)
New Gourna - Kurna, Egypt (1945)
Las Pozas - Xilitla, Mexico (1944)
Corozal Cemetery - Panama City, Panama (1914)
Tecton Buildings - Dudley Zoological Gardens, UK (1937)
Atlanta-Fulton Public Library - Atlanta, US (1980)
Miami Marine Stadium - Miami, US (1963)
Cultural Landscape - Hadley, US (1959)
Phillis Wheatley School - New Orleans, US (1954)
Taliesin - Spring Green, US (1911)
Taliesin West - Scotssdale, US (1937)
Merritt Parkway Bridges - Connecticut, US (1940)
Parque del Este - Caracas, Venezuela (1958)
Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Central University of Venezuela - Caracas, Venezuela (1950s)

These places are too new to be on the WMF endangered monuments list. Also note that 11 out of the 15 belong to the Americas and 7 - almost half, are in the US.

Photos public domain - Source (1, 2)

There are self-proclaimed green hotels. There are certified green hotels. There are LEED certified green hotels. And then there’s Napa Valley’s Bardessono, in a league of its own.

What makes the Bardessono Inn and Spa in Yountville, CA so special? That would be because of the:-

• 14,000 sq. ft of 200 kilowatt solar photo voltaic systems on rooftops
• Eighty two 300 foot wells beneath the Bardessono as part of a geothermal system for heating & cooling rooms and preheating of domestic hot water
• Automated external venetian blinds on windows and occupancy sensors to turn off lights
• LED and fluorescent light fixtures
• Low water use fixtures, dual flush toilets, drip irrigation, drought resistant plants
• The Town of Yountville recycles grey and black waters and sells it for irrigation use.
• Recycled wood furnishings with eco-friendly fabrics
• Redwood ceilings from old wine tanks
• Glues, adhesives, paints, and wall coverings with low VOC
• Concrete with a high potash (recycled product) content
• Glass Tiles with a high recycled content
• Steel with a high recycled content
• Organic linens and terry
• Organic cleaning products
• Spa & Restaurant food use organic and local
• Recycled Uniforms
• Drinking water, filtered on site
• Vegetable waste composted for use in the gardens
• Laundry done with limited hot water and non-detergent cleaners
• Recycling throughout the hotel
• Recycled paper products
• Electric and bio-diesel vehicles for hotel use

Photos courtesy Studio 707

To learn more about the 62-room Bardessono Inn, spa and restaurant, visit www.bardessono.com/  

The best place to look up a destination is often the official tourism website. This is especially true for green travel planning.

The problem is that most travelers are simply not aware of these sites. To help these sites gain some visibility, we’re listing here the official green travel sites of  major destinations in California.

Green SF - The green movement is transforming San Francisco from grass roots to rooftop.

Green LA - LA Inc - It’s easy to mix an eco-friendly experience with your next visit to Los Angeles.

Green OC - Everything that’s green about Anaheim and Orange County.

Sustainable Santa Monica - Santa Monica has been active in the sustainable movement since well before “sustainable” became a household word.

Green San Diego - Primer for enjoying a green vacation in San Diego.

Green Santa Barbara - Helps visitors learn more about the greener side of Santa Barbara.

Unofficial/non-travel green sites for Sacramento, Palm Springs & South Lake Tahoe, since they don’t seem to have official green travel websites.

You might also be interested in checking out these CA state websites:-

California Green Lodging Program - Encourages state travelers to seek out and give preference to certified green hotels.

VisitCalifornia - Eco-Awareness section of the official California tourism website.

Does it surprise you to know that Chicago has the largest number of green roofs? More than more than all other US cities combined. Or that the Windy City boasts of the nation’s first USDA certified organic bakery?

It is an indication that Chicagoans are quite aware of their environmental responsibilities, and doing their bit. Here’s what you - as a visitor, can do to keep your travel in Chicago sustainable and clean.

Green Hotels:- We maintain an updated list of all the LEED certified green hotels in Illinois here. At present, the list includes the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza in Chicago and the Hotel Arista in Naperville - which falls within the Chicago metropolitan area.  

If, for some reason, the above two hotels are not for you - then Chicago has 14 Green Seal certified hotels.

Transportation:-Use the Chicago Metra - Convinient, has a wide reach and least harmful to the environment. The Metra allows you to carry along bikes, so if you want to take a bike tour of Chicago and hop in and out of the Metra in-between, it’s not so strenous.

For transport from Chicago’s Western suburbs - if say you’re staying at the Hotel Arista in Naperville - then you might want to check out the Grasshopper Shuttle.

Hybrid cabs make up a very small percentage (about 1%) of Chicago’s cabs, so unless you call and specifically ask for a hybrid cab, you should avoid hailing cabs. If you must have private transport, then hire a green limo from Diva.

Dining & Restaurants:- Plenty of options in Chicago, if you’re looking for an organic restaurant. This list includes the famed Crust - Chicago’s first experiment with organic cuisine. If you end up at Crust, don’t miss their wild herb & cheese, with a heady organic beer to wash it down.   

Other notable organic foodie hot-spots in Chicago include Bistro Campagne, Uncommon Ground, and the Bleeding Heart Bakery - the first organic bakery in the US.

Another exciting option is Drew’s Eatery, which offers delicious organic ice cream, hot dogs and sausages.

If you happen to be in the right place at the right time, you might also enjoy the Shedd Aquarium’s Right Bite dinners and/or a visit to the Chicago Green City Market.

Attractions & Things to Do:- In addition to aforementioned Shedd Aquarium, eco-friendly attractions in Chicago include the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, which has a gigantic 17,000 sq ft green roof, and will be hosting aforementioned Green City Market later this year. The Museum café sells local and organic foods.

If you’re interested in green tech, then a visit to the Chicago Center for Green Technology might prove interesting. The Center also has a nice green roof-top.

Want to visit Chicago’s other famed green roof-tops?  Check out the rooftops at Millenium Park in the Loop, Pepsico Rooftop Garden (555 W. Monroe St., 2nd floor), and Soldier Field in the Museum Campus.

Other visitable eco-attractions include the two observatories in Garfield Park and Lincoln Park, the Field Museum and the Lincoln Park Zoo. If you visit the zoo, don’t miss the endangered species carousel, and if you need a break, head for the Café at Wild Things - an organic café located at the top of the Wild Things gift shop at the zoo. 

But the Chicago experience remains unfulfilled unless you poke around North Michigan Ave and do some Magnificent Mile shopping at Burton Snowboards, Chiaroscuro, and Old Plank Antiques on Huron.

Inspite of all this, and since you’re only human, it is to be expected that you’ll end up with a nice fat carbon footprint for your Chicago trip. If you wish to purchase carbon offsets, here’s the City of Chicago’s carbon-offset guide.

Green roof photo by swanksalot; Bleeding Heart Bakery photo by rkbcupcakes; Carousel photo by YimHafiz