Nearly one billion tourists travel around the globe every year – many by plane or car. Can you imagine the carbon emissions?

In an article on the website The Independent Traveler, Ed Hewitt compares car travel to airplane travel. According to the article, “… if the average American drives 10,000 – 15,000 miles each year, it takes only a trip to Europe for a West Coaster, a trip to Hawaii for an East Coaster or a couple of cross-country flights to do as much damage (or more) as you do during an entire year of commuting and cruising in your car.”

Wow. So, what do you do if you want to get away, but want to do it in a green way?

Hewitt writes about buying carbon offsetting, where you donate money to green organizations or companies to plant trees (or something along those lines) to offset the damage  your flight will do to the environment. This article is not going to get into carbon offsetting, instead we’re going to discuss greener vacation ideas.

• Stay local. This is the easiest (and possibly the least appealing) vacation idea for many. See if there are any fun events going on in your town, or in a town close by. Try something you did as a child, but haven’t done since. Get out and hike. If there’s something touristy, why not try it out and see why people travel to your area. 
• Travel to a nearby hotspot. If you don’t live in a big city, there’s usually one or two within a couple of hours’ drive.  Or, if you live in a big city, there’s usually a small, quieter town that’s not too far off the beaten path. If you do drive somewhere, look for green activities — walking around the city, hiking trails, biking, etc.
• If you do live in a more metropolitan area and would really like to get away, look into something like the BoltBus. These buses have an that cuts nitrous oxide emissions in half.  Most of the cities that have BoltBus are in the northeast – NYC, D.C., Baltimore, Boston, Philadelphia, etc. The fares start at $1. The buses are also equipped with WiFi.
• Consider camping — the kind where you take a sleeping bag and build a tent. It’s a great way to experience the great outdoors, it’s cheap, and most of the activities are also pretty green — fishing, hiking, biking, exploring, etc. (If you know of a green mosquito repellent that works, please let me know!)
• If you’re going to drive somewhere and you own a gas guzzler, think about renting a hybrid. The money you save on gas will probably pay for the price of the rental.

These are just a few tips. Obviously, if you do go somewhere and stay in a hotel, put out the little sign that lets them know you don’t need new sheets and towels for everyday of your stay. And look for chains that are eco-friendly.

Any other green vacation suggestions? Please comment and let us know about them!

Purchasing a car is likely the second largest investment you will make – and one that you will likely have to live with for at least the next few years – so you want to make the best, cleanest, most fuel efficient, safest, and cost effective decision. For my husband and I this decision has lead us beyond the land of hybrid vehicles and into the land of diesel engines.

The 2009 Green Car of the Year award went to a Turbo Diesel Injected (TDI) vehicle – the Volkswagen Jetta Clean Diesel (TDI). This is the first time the award has gone to a clean diesel vehicle. For Americans, a diesel car probably sounds like an old, dirty engine, but its time for all of us to get back on the diesel bandwagon. Europeans have been driving these new diesels for years, but these cars have only recently been able to meet the stringent American emissions standards. In fact while adventuring to Copenhagen, Denmark, it was hard not to see one of these (or the wagon version) cars on the street — even as taxi cabs!

Hands down, this is a performance vehicle. Its powerful, even though it is only a four cylinder vehicle. Because my husband and I have been seeking a car that would allow us to become a one car family and yet still have plenty of space for lugging things home, someday growing a family, and hopefully space for a dog, we looked at the sportwagon version of the VW TDI. Testing driving this car, we were nearly sold, but it was the little bonuses for the price that really sealed the deal. This car has gadgets galore — and most of them are standard! Between the Bluetooth (which even allows you to play music over the speakers that is streamed from your iPhone), the touch screen radio, and the digital dashboard readouts, this car has just about everything a geek could want! Further, the seats fold down perfectly flat, the front seats (and back!) are heated, and the side view mirrors have a defrosting option. All around, this car is fun to drive.

Its not all fun and games in these cars though. Some of the toys genuinely help the driver drive more efficiently. Much like the Ford and the Toyota hybrids which display the fuel efficiency of the car, the VW and Audi clean diesel cars show the average fuel economy for your current driving trip and your tank of fuel. They also show you instant fuel economy based on the speed you are traveling. These gauges help drivers learn which driving styles generate the best fuel efficiency for the vehicle. Of course, also like most of the hybrids, most clean diesel cars also offer built in navigation which can also help you increase your fuel economy by showing you the most efficient way to get from place to place.

But what’s so great about the clean diesel technology and how is it different today than it was years ago? First of all, today’s diesel engines are highly efficient. The VW Jetta Sportswagon, for example, gets 30mpg in the city and 41mpg on the highway. Best yet, these mpg stats are likely to be surpassed. (It is a Jetta TDI that currently holds the world record for best fuel efficiency with 67.1mpg.) With 236 foot pounds of torque, this vehicle is powerful to say the least, able to move quickly from a standing start and pass other moving cars with a light tap of the petal. In comparison, old diesel engines were known for being loud, hard to start, and belching smoke, a far cry from these clean engines, even if they were efficient for its time. With prices for diesel fuel not much more than that of gasoline and the prices staying far more steady, its no wonder why Americans are beginning to again look towards these new technologies.

Interestingly, the Audi A3 clean diesel TDI is the 2010 Green Car of they year. This makes two years running for a clean diesel cars to win the coveted award.

So if you are wondering what it is my husband and I purchased… you guessed right! The VW Jetta Sportswagon TDI. We call her “Gretta the Jetta.”

As I mentioned some time ago, my husband and I have been in the market for a new vehicle – but not any old car! As professional advocates on climate change issues, it is extremely important to us to make a choice that supports our daily efforts to improve fuel efficiency, keep our air clean, and reduce our carbon footprint.

When we’ve spoken about out interest in purchasing a new car with our friends, they all seem to simply think the obvious choice for us is a hybrid vehicle. But just because the vehicle includes hybrid technology, does not always mean that it’s the most fuel efficient. New technologies are always coming out and while we rely on manufacturers to tell consumers about the benefits, most have done a pretty lousy job. The educated car buyer is challenged to keep up with the innovations, learning the benefits, which manufacturer is using the technologies and when they will be brought to the marketplace. It’s not an easy task.

All hybrid technology is not created equal – and they differ from one manufacturer to another.Learn more about hybrids by checking out a post I wrote about them some time ago. You cannot rely upon car salesmen to tell you about the technology as many have not taken the time to learn about it or will be able to explain it well. Do your own research.

Compare vehicles that include hybrid technology with conventional models making sure to look at price, miles per gallon, and even maintenance. If you are more of a long distance, highway driver, hybrid vehicles may not increase your mpg enough to make it worth the extra money. For you, it may make more sense to seek out a conventional or diesel (TDI – Turbocharged Direct Injected) vehicle with excellent highway ratings. More on TDI another day… For those of you who are more short distance, city traffic drivers, hybrids may better suit your needs since the vehicle recharges the battery while breaking and operates utilizing the battery while slowing and stopping.

It’s important to also realize that hybrids will soon be coming out with another big improvement – plugs! No, this doesn’t mean you will be required to plug in your car or park near an electricity source. What it means is that you will have the option to charge the battery of the car with electricity from your home, allowing the vehicle to rely on the battery more than the gas tank. Still you can always fill up at the local station and still recharge the battery through slowing and stopping. Best of all, this improvement to the hybrid technology will come with a battery with much improved energy saving capacity. Hopefully, theses cars are only right around the corner, so if you are not quite in the market for a new car but are just starting to think about it, look out for new plug-in hybrids coming to a car dealer near you in the next few years – if not sooner!

Still, while the U.S. market has just barely more than a handful of hybrids currently available, they simply do not seem to fit our bill when it comes to picking a car. Sure the Toyota Prius, the best selling hybrid currently on the market, is worth a look and remains on our list, it does not have the hauling capacity we had hoped to maintain. The capacity is ok, and certainly doable but for a young couple likely to one day use the car for cross country trips, kids, and our occasional furniture shopping, it is only barely as big as we want – even with the seats folding down flat (a major perk in our book!). We do not prefer the relative low quality and lack of comfort of the Ford Escape and while the Saturn Vue was a pretty good ride, we felt it had very few tech options we wanted for the price, not to mention that we learned just after test driving that GM would be closing the line at the end of this year.

If price were no matter, the Lexus RX450h would be on the top of our list. It’s gas mileage is excellent (though could always be better!) and truly is an exquisite design of luxury. Unfortunately, that luxury comes with a hefty price tag that happens to be out of our ideal range.

So the question remains, will we find a vehicle that is both fuel efficient and family friendly in size which fits into our (hardly meager) price range at under $35,000? Stay tuned!

The time has finally come when my husband and I will be consolidating to just one car and I can hardly wait! While car shopping is certainly not my favorite pastime, the prospect of getting to vote with my wallet for the cars that should be on the road is exhilarating.

Considering that in the United States, the largest group among American’s owning at least one car, actually own three, it’s no small feat to go from two cars to one. We live close to a metro train stop and usually take public transportation to work. We rarely are using two cars at the same time, these days, so it make this transition to stepping down to one car that much easier.

We currently lease a small, but efficient 2007 Honda Civic and own a small, but as efficient as she can be 2001 Toyota Rav4. The Rav4 is my baby, surviving the worst car crash I have ever been in, experiencing Vermont winters (she’s only a 2×4), and seeing me through my tumultuous 20s. While she may not have been the most fuel efficient cars of her time, she has been a dear friend. Replacing her towing capacity, reliance, and comfort while maintaining top notch fuel efficiency is our number goal in finding the perfect vehicle – the question is: are there any new automobiles on the market up to the challenge?

The simple answer right now is: we just aren’t sure yet. We have looked at the obvious choices like all the hybrid models currently available to the U.S. market. We have researched the conventional engine models which have “good” gas mileage, and we have begun the investigation into new diesel technologies which are not only cleaner than your father’s diesel engines but more efficient too. But there are other aspects to consider too – do they have the room we need? Are they something I want to be in for a long ride half way across the country when we visit the family? Will they last and have excellent resale value five to eight years from now? And sadly, will the manufacturer even exist by year’s end let alone for the life of the vehicle?

We are both professional environmentalists, who both even advocate for strong climate legislation for a living, so it is important to us to make the right decision in a time when consumers can really make a statement just by their purchase.

Over the next few days and weeks, I will be chronicling our efforts to find the perfect auto and hopefully making it easier for you to follow suit when you are ready to look for your next four wheel best friend. Have a question or have advice, comment below!

Today we give a shout out to eco-friendly taxi services. Everyday hundreds of thousands of people use taxi services to get around America’s cities. More often than not, those rides are for just one person. Certainly this is not the most environmentally conscious way to travel and it’s not the most economically savvy method either. But fear not, there is a new website that  can make you at least feel better about your taxi use – at least if you are hailing one in New York!

CabCorner.com is a new website which helps you find people to share a cab which will either get you both to your same destination or help you share a ride which will reduce your overall cab fare. Currently, they are only in New York City, but their site says that they are coming soon to Washington, DC, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago. What could be easier than planning a bit ahead, letting the database know where you are headed and finding someone to split the cost with you – all in the name of reducing your carbon footprint and saving a few bucks? This site is simple to navigate and even allows you to decide the sex of your traveling companions. Brilliant, I think!

The only thing that could be better for local for-hire transportation is to hail a hybrid. Eco-friendly cab services are popping up all over the country. Numerous cities nationwide are turning over their taxi fleets to hybrid vehicles making it easier for residents and tourists to hail more energy efficient vehicles every day. Even in markets where there have been mandates, cleaner vehicles are hitting the roads to give you a lift.

Looking to get even one more leg up on the eco scale for your local transportation needs? Take a bus or ride the local trains. Buses across the country are getting greener everyday too. Many cities are cleaning up their fleet by introducing natural gas and hybrid electric buses to the city streets. These vehicles significantly reduce pollution and are more energy efficient. Next time you hop on a bus, check out the side to see if it says what type of fuel it uses – you might be surprised!

Yesterday we chatted about renting green cars, but what if you want to purchase a green car? Increased fuel efficient vehicles are entering the market all the time and if some in Congress have their way, new requirements that American automakers produce green cars could add many more. Still, it’s up to you to do your homework to find a car which bests suits your driving habits, budget, and shade of green.

For drivers who commute to work long distances driving highway miles without stop and go traffic, an efficient conventional vehicle may be better for you. Sound shocking? It’s not. Most hybrid vehicles generate energy through braking, making them more efficient for city driving than highway driving. If you were, for example, to compare the costs and benefits of purchasing a Honda Civic with that of a Hybrid Honda Civic, you may find that your driving habits do not make the hybrid worth the added costs because you use your car to take long trips with little stop and go. The same can be said if you take public transportation most of the time and drive very few miles.

Take the time to understand hybrid technology so that you can best decide if it’s worth the extra cost based on they type of driving you do and the alternative car you would drive if it weren’t a hybrid.

Besides hybrids, there are other types of fuel efficient, low emissions vehicles on the market or soon to be on the market. Relatively small groups of people are taking it upon themselves to retrofit their cars to accept biodiesel, a fuel which usually comes from used oils such as restaurant frying oil. Soon to be on the market are hybrid plug-in vehicles which offer the same technology as the current hybrid with the addition of a plug to help you get a head start at energizing the electric battery and therefore increasing the number of miles you can drive on each tank of fuel.

Still confused about what cars have the greatest fuel efficiency? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a program called SmartWay which might help. Previously focused entirely upon tractor trailer fleets, this new program now offers a green leaf logo which you can look for on consumer cars and trucks. Much like other certification programs, the green leaf shows that these vehicles are more fuel efficient and have cleaner emissions than others on the market. If you already have a car in mind and want to see how it ranks, check out the EPA’s Green Vehicle Guide.

But there is more to consider about your future car than just the emissions and fuel efficiency. While most of us think of are concerned about the emissions at the tailpipe, few realize that there are also toxic emissions from a car’s interior. That “new car” smell isn’t just a clean scent auto manufacturers spray at the end of production; it’s the off gassing of chemicals used to make upholstery, dashboards, the foam in seats, and other interior parts. The Ecology Center offers a project called Healthy Car which tests hundreds of cars and rates them based on their toxicity. The most common chemicals found in cars are flame retardants (found to be endocrine disruptors), lead, and polyvinyl chlorides (PVC). Take a look at the most and least concern vehicles for 2008.

Lastly, more car manufacturers are making a concerted effort to clean up their manufacturing plants by recycling, reducing waste, and eliminating many toxic chemicals. Subaru celebrates their fourth year as a zero waste manufacturer this year. These efforts not only reduce the waste going into landfills but also the chemicals to which workers are exposed.

When purchasing your next vehicle, look at the whole picture, not just what goes in the gas tank and out the tailpipe. 

Everyday most Americans make choices about their transportation habits and over the next few days, I am going to give you a few tips to help you make those difficult choices just a bit more easily. Today, lets focus on your plans to rent a car for the holidays or whenever you travel.

You may not yet own the eco car of your dreams, but every time you rent a car, you have a chance to not just test drive that hybrid you have been lusting for but also reduce the amount of fuel you use (and in some states, travel in the carpool lanes).

More and more rental companies are offering green rental cars. From smaller, more economical vehicles to hybrid and alternative fuel cars, the rental car industry is trying to help consumers make the right choice.

For those of you traveling to destinations west, particularly areas of California and Arizona, a company called EV Rentals aims to provide travelers with the most technologically advanced green rental cars available. Their fleet consists entirely of hybrid-electric, natural gas and electric vehicles. This is an excellent opportunity for travelers to test out vehicles they may have only read about.

For those of you wondering how you can rent an environmentally-friendly car in the rest of the country fear not, there are options. Rental car companies, Enterprise, Alamo, and National have all made a commitment to going green. This includes increasing the number of fuel-efficient vehicles and reducing their overall carbon footprint. Not to be outdone, Hertz Rental Car Company has made a Green Collection available to consumers. Make sure to ask specifically for eco-friendly cars when making your reservations.

For those of you interested in testing out other alternative fuels and happen to be in select areas of Hawaii, Bio-Beetle offers biodiesel vehicles. Biodiesel is a clean-burning diesel fuel, made from 100% natural, 100% renewable sources such as vegetable oil recycled from restaurants. Because their vehicles are retro-fitted to accept biodiesel, they offer a wide variety of cars, trucks, and even jeeps which you can cruise around the islands in. This is certainly a unique way to experience paradise.

Consider changing just your rental car choices as your next step to a greener way of living, a greener way of travelling.

Image by Flickr user Pogo Stick used under a Creative Commons License.