airplane carbon emissions

10 Earth Day Travel Tips

Wendy Worrall Redal by Wendy Worrall Redal | April 21st, 2011 | 5 Comments
topic: Eco Travel, Green Living | tags: airplane carbon emissions, buses, Earth Day, electronics, endangered animals, fuel-efficient rental cars, green travel tips, how to pack light, ivory, LEED-certified hotels, non-stop flights, phantom energy load, plastic, public transportation, reusable water bottle, souvenirs, thermostat, trains, volunteer vacations, walking

Plane flying over a green field

When it’s time to leave home, consider the planet as you make your plans. These simple practices take little effort but can make a big impact on the environment — not just for Earth Day, but every day.

1. Start before you go

Unplug your electronic appliances when you leave home for an extended time, especially those with digital or LCD displays such as TVs or microwaves — these suck a lot of power whether they are switched on or not. The Department of Energy estimates that so-called “vampire” or “phantom” energy waste accounts for 5 percent of total electronic energy consumption in the United States. You should also make sure your thermostat is turned down or off, and reduce the setting on your water heater.

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