Go Green with Car Rental

With constant news updates popping up on your TV about the rapid deterioration of the environment and the issue of climate change, you are probably wondering if YOU can do anything about it. We have all seen those ad's on TV about offsetting your carbon emissions or "going green' when you buy your new car, but you probably thought that you would never actually do it. Well the good news is that you are probably already helping the environment, without even realising it! We as humans impact on the environment each and every day, and if we can reduce this impact by even the slightest, we may have a chance of making our planet a more pleasant and 'greener' place to live. While travelling, here are a few simple things you can do to ensure you are a 'green traveller':

Firstly, when you fly anywhere make sure you offset the carbon emissions of your flight. This is done by paying a minimal amount to a carbon offset company, normally less than fifty bucks.
Most carbon is emitted when planes take off and land. Take a 'no flight holiday', or reduce your stopovers.
Pack as light as you can - the lower the weight of the plane, the lower the energy it requires.
Ensure you have shut down all the appliances in your house that use electricity, such as the central heating.
Try to reduce the amount of driving you do. Catch public transport to the airport. When you hire a car, choose the smallest engine possible or a hybrid if available. Walk or cycle where you can!
When choosing a hotel, check out their water treatment system- avoid ones that pump their effluent out to sea.
Also try and choose a hotel that is locally owned and run. Make sure the staff employed are from the local community, and not foreigners. There should be some element of 'giving back' to the local community.
There are eco-friendly hotels out there, you just need to find them. Look for energy efficient lighting, solar power units, and toilets and showers with flow restrictions.
Go easy on the air con! Only use it if really necessary, and turn it off when you go out. Try save water too- short showers, no baths, turning taps off.
Don't get room service- head out to a local restaurant. This way you sample the local culture, support the local economy and take the pressure off the hotel resources.
Don't make coffee in your hotel room. This leaves waste in the form of sugar packets, plastic milk containers, plastic teaspoons etc. Head out to the local coffee shop instead!
If given the choice, use glass cups or mugs and not plastic ones. Less waste.
Unless you ask them not to, your sheets and towels will be washed every day. This isn't really necessary and is a waste of resources, so leave that 'do not disturb' sign up.
Turn off any unused lights!
Bring your own toiletries instead of using the little plastic, packaged ones in the hotel. If you do use them, take them home and re use them.
If you are going on a tour, choose smaller ones because their impact on the environment is not so severe.
Make sure your tour guide is local, and find out how the tour gives back to the community.
If its a hiking tour youre on, dont veer off the marked trails and disrupt as little vegetation as possible. Give the local wildlife its space.
When snorkelling or scuba diving dont touch the coral, or try and interfere with the marine life.
Do a bit of homework about the traditions and cultures of the local peole in the area you are visiting. Be sensitive to dress and behaviour codes. For instance skirts of a certain length may be acceptable in some parts of the world, but in others they would be.
Learn a few words of the local language. This helps you bond with the people you interact with and is always appreciated by locals.

So there you have it - travelling green isnt going to kill you. Every little bit helps, so even if we can remember to do just a few of the things on this list we are going some way to benefiting the planet. So take it all on board and enjoy your green holiday!