GREEN PIECE: Staying green away from home

The amount of interest in going green is soaring, and people are much more conscious of their carbon footprint these days. With summer here, that means travel and vacation are rapidly approaching. Eco travel is something we should all be aware of on our adventures this summer. When planning your vacation, be sure to keep our precious environment in the back of your mind.

I recently took a cross-country road trip and explored many of our national parks. I was happy to see that every park offered recycling and made sure it kept the parks clean. Choosing a vacation destination based on whether it contributes to the well-being of our environment is a great way to enjoy an eco-friendly vacation.

Grand Canyon National Park provides shuttles for visitors to use rather than creating more emissions driving their own vehicles around. It also utilizes consistent waste-recycling strategies as well as ways to use less water.

Many families vacation overseas and far from home, so there is no other option but to fly. Since airplanes are huge contributors to the release of carbon dioxide, be sure to make green choices once you get to your destination. Bicycle rentals are a great way to sightsee without harming the environment.

When choosing your accommodations, make sure to do some research to find out what green policies it goes by. Hotels will often promote their eco-friendly practices, so it’s easier to find them. Look for hotels that recycle and use wind or solar energy.

For most of us, it’s impossible to leave home without some sort of gadget, so try and grab a few eco-friendly items for your next trip. Rechargeable batteries are a great way to go green. If you can’t leave your music, movies and games at home, try getting a solar-powered media player.

Most importantly, be respectful. When I was headed to Canyonlands National Park in Utah, I stopped at Newspaper Rock in the eastern part of the state. This rock is an ancient Indian monument that features one of the largest known collections of petroglyphs (rock engravings). Because this rock art is so accessible, it has also been subject to vandalism and destruction. So when you’re out at a national park or monument and signs say “Do not touch” or “Do not enter,” make sure you abide by the rules.