Two weeks ago, we flew to West Palm Beach to visit Elizabeth’s grandfather. It wasn’t the greenest trip, but we’re of the mindset that little things make a big difference.

Here are five simple things we did to reduce our environmental impact.

1. Getting there: Took a direct flight to the closest airport. We’re frugal travelers so we considered cheaper tickets with layovers, which would mean flying further, and flights that went to Miami International Airport, which would mean driving 60 miles further to our destination. But we thought about the convenience factor and the environmental impact of the cheaper flights and opted to spend $40 per ticket to fly non-stop to Palm Beach.
2. Getting around: Rented a car. Although we advocate for public transportation, it’s not always an option. Our choices were to ask Elizabeth’s grandfather to pick us up and drop us off at the airport (which would have been harsher on the environment with the extra trip there and back), take a cab (which would have been brutal on our wallets), or rent a car at the airport, which we could also drive to the beach.

   

   photo credit: TroyM

3. Accommodations: Stayed with someone. Instead of sleeping in a hotel where rooms are cleaned and mini shampoos restocked daily, we opted to stay with a family member. If you don’t know anyone in the town you’re visiting, check out Couchsurfing. You can crash with fellow couchsurfers for free, plus they’ll show you around town.
4. Entertainment: Opted for free activities. Instead of going out to bars or movies, which would have burned gas and money, we chose to stay closer to the house for entertainment. We went for long walks in the much appreciated warmer clime, read a books by the pool, and watched movies at home.
5. Food: Dined in. We saved resources by eating breakfast and lunch at home. By eating in, we both avoided the usual restaurant waste (like unused straws that are thrown away, extra utensils that are washed anyway, and dishes that get cleaned in wasteful commercial dishwashers) and saved the gas it would have taken to drive there. When we did go out to eat, we either split our meal or took the leftovers to go so they didn’t go to waste.