The Green Room

Make sustainability part of spring break

By Walmart Green Room on March 18, 2013 Leave a comment

With signs of spring upon us, many people are ready for a much-needed spring break – a good time to relax, recharge and reboot. Here are a few ways to keep up your eco-friendly habits, even while you’re enjoying a break from everything else:

Make the most of a staycation. Many of us dream of a getaway to a tropical destination or an exotic adventure, but you don’t necessarily need to travel to have a vacation. Staycations have become the new normal and planning a fun break at home can not only save money but also reduce your carbon footprint. Use this time to explore some new sustainable opportunities right in your own hometown. Exercise your green thumb by planting flowers or a tree in your backyard. Or create your own compost pile to turn food scraps and yard trimmings into potting soil. If a clean home will help you relax, be sure to use eco-friendly cleaning products. And if you need to get away for a bit, play the part of a tourist and rent a bicycle to explore your hometown in a different way.

Go paperless at the airport. Trying to save time before a flight? Rather than printing out your boarding passes at home or using the self-serve kiosks at the airport, save time with your mobile device. Many airlines now allow you to not only check in with your mobile device but also download your boarding pass so agents can scan it directly from your phone. It will save paper in addition to time, and make your travel that much more sustainable.

Power down. Hotel rooms are meant to feel like a home away from home – but on a bit more luxurious level. And with plush bedding, modern bathrooms and room service, they certainly do. But just because it feels different than home doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be mindful of energy use. Switch off the lights each time you leave your room, and ask that the cleaning service not wash your bath towels or bedding until you leave to reduce water, energy and chemical cleaner usage.

Travel like a local. Sure, renting a car provides a certain freedom, but using mass transportation—whether the Paris Metro, London “tube” or New York City subway—can give your vacation a more authentic feel while also reducing your carbon footprint. Make sure to get a good map, and don’t be afraid to ask for directions. Contrary to popular belief, many locals actually enjoy helping tourists.

Don’t forget the thermostat. We know from practices we’ve implemented in our own stores that maintaining a proper thermostatis a great way to save energy. But when you’re away from home, keeping that thermostat at your regular temperature can be a waste of both energy and money, unless you’re leaving pets at home that require that specific temperature. It’s better to turn down or completely turn off your thermostat so you can be conscious of energy use at home even though you’re miles away.

Donate your newspaper. There’s no need to have your newspaper deliveries stack up on your doorstep while you’re out of town. Instead, make arrangements to have them donated to a school or even a local library while you’re away. It’ll be much more use to them than your recycling bin.

Check out even more eco-friendly travel tips from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

How do you plan to keep sustainable while on vacation?