Believe it or not, it was high time that the vacation scene got a new makeover to make it more eco friendly. Summer is quickly coming, and with it comes the time when people take their vacations looking for some fun and relaxation. With everything else going green today, isn’t it time that your vacation gets a green makeover as well. Whether you want a relaxing vacation where you can sleep in and relax, or a high energy touring vacation full of thrills and chills, you can still choose an eco friendly option this summer. So, if you’re planning your summer vacation, here’s your eco summer travel guide to a great green getaway.

Ecotourism in Your Area
While many people think of ecotourism and instantly start imagining far off lands like the beautiful South African Coast or the lovely rainforests in Brazil, you can actually experience the wonder of ecotourism in your own corner of the world. In fact, the closer to home you go on vacation, the greener your vacation you will be. Vacations that are closer to home actually known as bioregional vacations help to protect the environmental resources by leaving a carbon trail that is much smaller. Instead of those long international flights that use up more resources, you’ll be able to choose a short flight or even drive to you destination.

There are many great places across the U.S. where you can enjoy an eco-adventure. One of the best ways to make sure that your vacation is eco friendly is to drive to your destination. This is especially helpful if you are driving a hybrid vehicle or a vehicle that will use bio diesel fuels as well.

Not only does ecotourism in your region of the world help to save on natural resources, but it also helps to support the economic stability of your own country. There are a variety of different places across the United States that have suffered economic problems for a variety of reasons, and vacationing in their area allows you the opportunity to help rebuild the economy in the area and experience life elsewhere within your own country.

If you are looking for local travel destinations that are eco friendly and educational, there are many to be found within the United States. Let’s take a look at a few great choices.

- Volunteer Hiking Vacations – If you enjoy the outdoors and you’re looking for a trip with excitement and daring along the way, then a volunteer hiking vacation may be just the thing for you. These trips are organized by the American Hiking Society and they focus on hiking various trails and fixing up shelters and rebuilding the trails at various state parks throughout the country.

- Audubon International Ecotourism Alliance Golf Courses – For those golfers who enjoy teeing off and seeing nature, there are a variety of golf courses today that are not a part of the program offered by the Audubon International Ecotourism Alliance. These golf courses help to support environmentally friendly golf courses and also offer sanctuary programs for birds. You’ll be helping the environment and helping to educate others about it as well when you spend your money on a vacation at one of these courses.

Going Abroad on a Eco Friendly International Vacation
While many people working on helping the environment have viewed international travel as an unnecessary luxury, with wasted time, expensive plane tickets, and the use of natural resources, today international eco traveling opportunities are actually on the rise. Today there are great alternatives for people who want to enjoy an adventure to another culture. There are a variety of volunteer based vacations and nature based vacations available today that support the ideas of environmentally friendly vacations. So, a variety of programs and organizations are not helping to bring about trips that make trips abroad affordable and environmentally responsible as well for those who are eco tourists.

When tourists visit these international destinations that have been non-commercialized, there are two main concerns that need to be addressed.

- Natural Resources Should be Fostered and Protected – It is important that the natural resources encountered should be left alone. Also, travelers should make sure that they don’t leave anything behind either so that they can leave the area they have visited totally untouched by their visit.
- Avoiding American Expectations – Many people travel to other countries with their own expectations. It is important that eco tourists leave their expectations behind them when the visit places abroad to protect themselves and the local communities that they visit as well.

Today there are actually endless opportunities for those who are interested in eco tourism. You’ll find many volunteer vacations available as well as trips that are nature based as well. Some organizations that may be able to help you find some great international vacation options include Sustainable Travel International, The International Ecotourism Society, and the ECOCLUB.

If you are interested in international nature trips, they take place in a variety of countries around the globe. Many people especially enjoy the experiences of culture and nature that are available in Latin America. Other popular places that eco tourists visit include New Zealand and Australia.

For a very different type of experience can be found with a volunteer trip abroad. These trips afford eco tourists the opportunity to provide volunteer work at interesting places around the world, such as helping to save giant otters in Bolivia, working on sites in Indonesia to help protect the orangutans, or even to helping in Thailand with elephant sanctuaries.

Finding Accommodations that are Eco Friendly
In recent years the entire travel industry, including companies that provide accommodations, have been known to have very little concern for the environment, excessively using water and energy. This has lead to many green tourists avoiding these accommodations altogether on their vacations. However, today there are now people in the industry who are recognizing how important going green is in this business and they are now offering alternative accommodations for those travelers looking for environmentally friendly options when traveling today.

So, you may be wondering what actually makes hotels or other accommodations green. Well, they can have environmental practices that they use or they work on environmental sustainability within the entire business. However, when you are evaluating accommodations for your vacation there are three different categories you’ll want to keep in mind when trying to figure out how eco-friendly the accommodations actually are.

- Design and Physical Aspects – This includes the property and the building, including how the resources are used, energy efficiency, and the materials that have been used as well. You’ll want to look for building materials that have been recycled or materials that are sustainable. Also, look for pads, carpet, adhesives, and pains that are low volatile organic compounds. Energy efficient cooling and heating, natural furnishings, lighting that is eco friendly, and the use of alternate energy resources should be looked for as well.

- Daily Operations – This should include how the place is cleaned and maintained. Some of the things to look for include recycling, conservation of water and heat, organic linens, and cleaning products that are non-toxic. You’ll also want to look for soaps and shampoos that are chemical free and in containers that are environmentally friendly. Make sure that the staff is instructed and trained in using green practices as well.

- Impact on the Community – This will include how the business deals with the community, local organizations, the employees, and supply partners. Look for places that offer local employment, and land development that is responsible. Also, make sure that they give back to the community and that they also protect the environment in the area and pay attention to the diversity and local culture and heritage as well.

Now that you know what to look for in green lodging and hotels, you may be wondering how you can find them. There are a variety of places that can help you find a great eco friendly option for your accommodations. You can check out The Good Travel Company, which scores hotels and alternative lodging options scores based on how eco-friendly they really are. Also, you can look for the Green Seal certified hotels in the United States. Sustainable Travel International is another excellent place where you can look for referrals to accommodations that are eco-friendly.

While there are many great green hotel options out there today, you’ll also find that there are a variety of alternatives to the green hotel as well. You can find eco resorts and lodges that are designed for people who are adventurous and who want to travel without hurting the environment. There are also holistic spas available as well for those who want to find a retreat that is relaxing, healthy, and friendly to the planet. One great option out there is the home exchange program as well. People actually can trade homes for a vacation and it keeps them from having to stay in larger hotels that waste resources and damage the ecosystems in the area. Cabins, yurts, and huts are also available for rent to those who are looking for some cost effective accommodations that are environmentally friendly as well.

Environmentally Friendly Luggage for the Vacation Season
If you are going to be traveling this summer, no doubt you are going to need to take some luggage around with you, but if you are an eco-tourist, you are going to want to make sure that you go with the green luggage options that are available. Going green with your luggage can help to save on pollution and it also will help you support those merchants that use fabrics that are organic and those that avoid using child labor and sweatshops for production of their products.

If you take a look at traditional luggage, you’ll find that while it may be serviceable for holding everything you need when you travel, the suitcase has a story that sadly speaks of harm to the environment. Most standard luggage was made with chemicals that are toxic. The two chemicals that are commonly used include polyvinyl chloride, which is known to cause cancer, and Chromium, which is a carcinogen. Not only have these pieces of luggage hurt the environment as they were created, but once they are too old to be used, they end up in landfills and they’ll sit there for years, or even forever if they are plastic. However, today there are more luggage options that are friendlier to the environment so you can travel with eco-friendly luggage.

Today there are a variety of different alternative options that are available to you, including hemp, cotton, canvas, leather, or even nylon. You can be sure that these options are biodegradable or recyclable and non-toxic as well. So, let’s take a closer look at some of the options available to you today.

- Cotton – One great alternative that you may want to consider using is cotton for your luggage needs. You can find luggage today that is made out of organic cotton and cotton is biodegradable as well as natural. However, you definitely want to make sure that you go with cotton that is organic, since other cotton tends to be sprayed with pesticides. Just remember that cotton is not a waterproof fabric. Today there are some waterproofing methods that are green as well, so make sure that your cotton luggage is made to be waterproof with a green method.

- Hemp – One very popular option today is hemp. Many green people are going for hemp luggage since it has a variety of great qualities. It is durable and strong and it can also be combined together with cotton. You’ll be able to find hemp suitcases, duffle bags, and other luggage accessories for travel so you’ll be able to travel in green style.

- Leather – Leather is another great options for those who are concerned about their luggage and how it affects the environment. You can find leather bags that have been recycles, leather that has been tanned with vegetable oils, and there are also luggage tags, bags, and even wallets that you can find made out of recycled leather as well today.

- Nylon – Nylon can be another option for green travelers looking for an eco-friendly luggage option. However, you should only use nylon in a few conditions. First of all, it should be waterproofed using water repellent that is non toxic. Also, you can choose luggage that has been made out of recycled nylon as well.

Green Flying – Tips to Help You Fly Green
Today many travelers end up traveling by plane during the summer, since it is efficient as well as economic. However, traveling by plane leads to a lot of carbon being released into the environment. If you do need to travel by plane, there are some things that you can do to work on reducing the carbon footprint that you leave behind when you travel by air. So, take these tips into consideration to help make sure that you fly as green as possible.

- Tip #1 – Pick a Method of Carbon Offsetting – There are a variety of airways and travel sites today that are working to offset the carbon emissions that occur with air travel. In fact, passengers can even purchase these carbon offsets if they choose to. Some of the practices used for carbon offsetting include planting new trees and increasing the use of wind power. Both of these offsetting the techniques can help to reduce the carbon in the environment. There are several offset providers that you can consider using like TerraPass, CarbonFund.org, and CarbonCounter.

- Tip #2 – Reduce Your Waste on the Flight – Another thing you can do if you want to fly green is to work to reduce the waste while you are flying. You can drastically cut down on the package waste by doing a few important things. First of all, you can decline any drinks that are served in plastic cups to you on the flight. Also, the in air snacks, like bags on peanuts can be refused as well to help reduce the waste. If you need a drink and some snacks, then take long your own snacks or purchase water before you get on the plane that is in recycled plastic. Also, make sure that you recycle your trash, such as magazines and newspapers that you purchase to read on the flight.

- Tip #3 – Don’t Pack a Lot – When you bring a lot of luggage, the plane has to work harder to transport. The heavier planes use a lot more fuel, resulting in more carbon emissions, but lighter planes use less fuel. So, by packing lightly, you can actually cut down on the carbon that is emitted by your flight.

Green Car Travel
Of course not everyone is going to travel by air during the summer. However, if you are planning on traveling by car on land, it is going to be important that you take measures to go as green as possible. If you are going to rent a car to go a fairly long distance, you may want to consider going with a hybrid vehicle. Probably the best choice for fuel economy is the Toyota Prius, since it gets about 46 mpg on average, which is great.

When you are traveling, no matter what type of a car you are planning on driving, there are some things that you can do to get the best possible gas mileage, reducing the amount of emissions that you emit and the amount of gas that you have to use as well. Here are a few tips that will help you out as you travel by land to get the best mileage for a green trip.

- Tip #1 – Keep Tires Well Inflated – Make sure that you check your tires on a regular basis. Be sure to keep them well inflated. Tires that are inflated to their optimum air pressure will help your car to get much better gas mileage.

- Tip #2 – Change Oil Regularly – Another thing you can do to make sure that you get better gas mileage is to change your oil on a regular basis. It is inexpensive to have your oil and oil filter changed and will cost you between about $15-40 depending on where you go and the type of oil you need in your car.

- Tip #3 – Keep Your Car Serviced – You should also make sure that your car is serviced on a regular basis. About every six months is about right. Keeping your car serviced and tuned up can help you make sure that you get the best mileage possible for your car.

- Tip #4 – Don’t Pack Too Much – When you are traveling by car, you’ll want to avoid packing too much into the car. The more weight you have in your car, the more you are going to spend on gas. So, if you want to save on the amount of gas that you have to use, pack a bit lighter when you travel.

- Tip #5 – Ethanol – When you go with a gas that is about 10% ethanol, you can get better gas mileage as well. So, look for gas stations along the way that offer this option. It may cost you just a bit more, but when you save on gas mileage, you’ll find it well worth the few extra cents you pay per gallon.

Of course if you plan on traveling by land, cars are not the only option. If you can, you may want to consider traveling by train. Trains that travel at high speeds actually emit only about half the carbon that cars emit. Also, they are a form of public shared transportation that helps to keep more cars from traveling on the roads as well.

If you do drive your car, try parking the car whenever possible and using public transportation whenever you can. This can help to decrease the reliance on oil and vehicles and it will be a more environmentally friendly way for you to get around.

For most of us our bathrooms are our sanctuaries. You can close the door on the noise and demands of your day-to-day life, fill the bath, light a few candles and suddenly you are in a serene world of your own. But just how relaxing would that long hot bath be if you knew that the bubbles around you contained a detergent so strong that it is used to degrease engines? And while you brush your teeth, consider that the toothpaste in your mouth may contain artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners and aluminum again!

In fact, almost every bodycare product in your bathroom probably contains a long list of chemicals - many of which could be toxic to you and the environment. Add to this the amount of plastic packaging that comes out of your bathroom in the form of toothpaste tubes, toothbrush packs, shampoo bottles, pots of body lotion and so on, the water wasted and the power used to heat your bath and shower water, and the environmental impact of your bathroom becomes very clear. Your days of stress-free bathing may be over unless you start making some green bathroom choices.

Decor

Avoid using conventional paints for bathrooms, as these are likely to contain fungicides and other chemicals that can offgas into the room. They are often also impermeable and therefore likely to trap moisture, potentially causing damp. Instead, go for water-based microporous paint that will let your walls breathe, dispersing moisture and aiding drying. Or another wall choice is wood paneling. It can help regulate the bathroom climate if it is treated with a porous finish such as beeswax.

For floors, the choice is similar to that for kitchens since moisture levels and heat are the main factors in both rooms. Natural linoleum, cork and terracotta tiles are the most suitable floor coverings in the bathroom.

The bathroom suite

As with every other part of your house, try to avoid plastic when it comes to choosing a bath, basin or toilet. Alternatives include porcelain or enamel bathroom suites, which both hold the heat of the bath water better than plastic or fibreglass. Choose the best-quality fixtures you can afford as they should last longer.

Avoid power showers, as these are heavy users of energy, but be sure to have at least a shower attachment that fits to your bath taps (faucets), as normal showers are huge savers of water. Installing water-saving shower heads can save you even more water, and opt for an electric shower which heats the water only as it is used, thereby saving energy.

Don’t go for the biggest bath you can squeeze into your bathroom - think of the water and power that will be wasted (and the cost on your heating bills) in just getting it half full. Remember that the less surface area of water exposed to air the less heat that will be lost, so go for a short but deep bath tub if possible. In fact, you could dispense with a bath altogether - a shower will do the job and save you acres of space, too.

Your taps (faucets) should ideally be low flow and sensor controlled, turning on only when your hands or toothbrush are beneath them. But if these are beyond your budget, choose mixer taps, which use a minimum amount of water to get the right temperature. Spray taps save water, too.

When it comes to toilets the golden rule is to choose low-flush models, as toilets use the most amount of water in the home (54 litres (90 pints) per person each day; 33 per cent of all household water use). New toilets are now required to use no more than 7.5 litres (13 pints) of water in their cisterns, but most existing toilets use at least 9.5 litres (16 pints), if not more. Look for a valve flush, rather than the less water-efficient siphon flush, and check out the latest models, some of which have 6.5 or even 3.75 litre (11 or 6 pint) cisterns. There are also dual-flush models that allow you to choose how much water you need for each flush. The cisterns can be bought separately and fitted to your existing toilet.

For the determinedly green, there is no better option than the compost toilet. This uses no water and creates a valuable garden fertilizer out of your waste. Contrary to popular belief, compost toilets are not smelly if they are properly looked after and you can now buy compost toilet systems specifically designed for domestic properties.

Finally, say ‘no’ to a bidet. They are not really necessary and will waste yet more water when a shower would do the job just as well.

TIPS

• Don’t have a bath or shower just to wash your hair and remember you do not need to wash your hair every day - in fact it is better for your hair if you don’t.

• Have showers rather than baths - a bath uses around 170 litres (37 gallons) of water compared with 80 litres (18 gallons) for a five-minute shower, so if you had a shower every two days instead of a bath, over a year you would save 17,000 litres (3,740 gallons) of water. In addition, a shower uses only 40 per cent of the hot water needed for a bath.

• Get leaking taps (faucets) fixed as soon as possible, as up to 4 litres (7 pints) of water can disappear down your sink every hour this way. A dripping hot tap (faucet) can waste 31 hot tanks of water each year.

• Find out if you have a leaking toilet cistern by putting vegetable dye in the water. If it appears in the toilet bowl without flushing, you know there is a leak, which needs to be fixed straight away.

• Recycle a plastic water bottle by filling it with water and putting it in your toilet cistern. It will fool the cistern into thinking it is full and therefore save on water use.

• Flush your toilet less. One-third of an average family’s water use is flushed down the toilet - the equivalent of two baths of water per day. If you are the only one in the house do you really need to flush it every time?

• Investigate water-saving systems - there are various ways of collecting rainwater for use in your toilet and saving greywater from your bath for use in the garden. You will probably need advice from experts on the best system for your needs.

• Make use of the water in your bathroom air by growing humidity-loving plants in your bathroom, such as ferns.

• Turn the tap (faucet) off! Leave it running while you brush your teeth and you could be wasting 4.5 litres (8 pints) of water.

Bath and shower accessories

The look of your bathroom is defined by the accessories - a truly green bathroom will have no plastic in sight and the accessories (and those that are only absolutely necessary) will all be made from natural materials, such as wood.

So resist the urge to use a plastic shower curtain and have a glass screen instead. Don’t buy a plastic non-slip bathmat unless you are really unsteady on your feet or have small children, and don’t clutter up the place with a lot of unnecessary plastic soap holders, plastic storage boxes and plastic toothbrush holders. If you really do need all of these bits and pieces seek out those made of sustainable materials. Otherwise opt for items made out of stainless steel, which can be recycled and is, incidentally, very fashionable.

Use a flannel (wash cloth) rather than a sponge. Real sponges are taken from the sea disturbing precious natural habitats, whereas artificial sponges are another product of the plastics industry. Cotton flannels (wash cloths), preferably organic and unbleached, can be washed time and again, and used around the house for other cleaning tasks when they are past their best.

Unbleached, organic cotton towels are the most eco-friendly and if you have linoleum flooring you may want to look out for organic cotton bathroom rugs as well. Or make your own bathroom mat by sewing together the best bits of old towels or by gluing leftover cork tiles onto a piece of hardboard.

For scrubbing under your nails, reaching the middle of your back or giving your skin an all-over brushing to help detoxify, choose wooden brushes with natural-fibre bristles. Check that the wood comes from a sustainable source - likewise for toilet brushes. You can also buy wooden duckboard-style slatted mats for stepping onto when you get out of the bath. As always, check the source of the wood before you buy.

Avoid plastic in other areas of your bathroom, too. Don’t buy disposable plastic razors - use metal ones with replaceable but durable blades, or an electric shaver. Look out for recycled plastic toothbrushes - now available in the USA made from yogurt pots - and make the effort to recycle your toothbrushes. An old toothbrush makes a great cleaning aid for hard-to-reach areas around your taps, on bicycle chains and under your nails.

And, although it is not strictly an accessory - more of an essential item - when it comes to toilet paper there is no excuse for buying anything other than recycled paper. The quality and softness are now the equal of most other papers.

And now here are some green solutions to a few of those tricky cleaning challenges in the bathroom:

• Limescale on taps (faucets): rub with half a lemon, rinse thoroughly and dry.

• Limescale on tap (faucet) nozzles: tie an old plastic bag filled with white vinegar around the ends of your taps (faucets) until the scale is dissolved, then rinse.

• Blocked shower head: remove the head and soak it in a bowl of warm, neat vinegar. A needle will help clear blocked holes.

• Hard-water deposits in toilet bowl: apply a paste of borax and white vinegar, leave for a few hours, then rinse.

• Hard-water deposits on shower doors: wipe with white vinegar, leave for 30 minutes, then rinse.

• Mildew on shower curtains: prevent mildew by soaking curtains in salted water before hanging, and scrub with a bicarbonate of soda paste and water, then rinse.

• Mould around shower: wash down with borax and do not rinse - the borax residue will fight mould growth.

• Fungus on tile grouting: apply a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water, leave for an hour, then rinse with warm water.

• Bath stains: light stains can be treated by rubbing with cut lemon dipped in salt, darker stains should be removed by applying a paste of borax and lemon juice - leave for an hour, then rinse.

• Drip marks in a bath: rub with warm vinegar, then rinse with warm water. Repeat this daily until they disappear.

Energy-saving

If you have a problem with condensation in your bathroom then you will need to consider ventilation. The most eco-friendly way of airing your bathroom is obviously to open the window, but if feeling a draught around your ankles while you stand in the shower does not appeal then you will almost certainly require an extractor fan.

To save energy, it is best to use a wind-operated fan in your window that draws air out of the house using the difference in pressure alone. If you do not have a convenient window then you are likely to need, or already have, an electric extractor fan. Often these come on automatically when you switch on the bathroom light, but to save energy install a second light in the bathroom, say above the mirror, which can be switched on without the extractor fan going on as well. You can use this light when you are just brushing your teeth or putting on your make-up -use the main light (with the extractor) only when you are having a bath or shower.

Finally, you will want to be sure that the bathroom door is well draught-proofed to prevent all your valuable, centrally heated, warm air being drawn out along with the condensation.

Bodycare

Today bodycare means big business. There are products aimed at the moisturizing, cleansing, toning and all-out pampering of almost every part of your body, and men are now just as well catered for as women. But behind the alluring promise of beauty lies the ugly reality of thousands of chemicals polluting the environment, millions of plastic bottles sitting in landfills, and the earth becoming ever more depleted of diminishing resources. So if you want to make a world of difference in one quick and easy step, make sure you buy only what is absolutely necessary and always check that it is as natural as possible. But beware: the term ‘natural’ is used somewhat loosely in the bodycare world; in many countries very few ingredients need to be natural for this term to be applied to a product.

What you should be looking for are ingredients that are plant based, rather than petroleum based, since these are theoretically sustainable, non-polluting and better for our health. It is also advisable to avoid as many manufactured chemicals as possible, which come in the form of fragrances, preservatives, detergents, chelating agents, thickening agents, colorants, antimicrobials, emulsifiers, and even UV absorbers to stop the chemical dyes in some products from fading in the sunlight (i.e. chemicals to protect chemicals!)

Bodycare products are notorious for their long list of bewildering ingredients, so it can be hard to distinguish which are good or bad among them. If in doubt, choose the product with the least number of ingredients of any kind.

Always choose certified organic bodycare products or products that at least contain organic ingredients Again, beware of the hype here - the term organic’ can be freely used on bodycare product labels in many countries without it meaning anything at all. Look for certification of individual ingredients as a guarantee that they were grown organically and check what percentage of the product contains these ingredients. In the future you may also be able to purchase organically certified bodycare products rather than just those that have some organic ingredients - standards are currently being developed in the US, for example.

Finally, try to avoid using as much packaging as possible. Aim to bulk buy, refill and recycle at every opportunity. You will then reduce waste and save yourself some money, too, while you are at it. And make sure that you let those manufacturers that consistently overpackage their products know that this is one of your reasons for no longer buying the product.

TIPS

• The chemicals in most bodycare products are not just putting an unnecessary strain on the environment; they are also putting our health under pressure. Our skin absorbs around 60 per cent of what is put on it - hence the success of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and nicotine patches - so in a year the average woman is estimated to have absorbed up to 2 kg (4 lb) of chemicals from bodycare products. While there are government bodies assessing the risk from these chemicals, they are usually looked at in isolation or in the formulation used in the product, so the potential risk from the reaction of chemicals from one product with those from another is being overlooked. The net result can range from allergies to cancer.

• The list of risky ingredients is long and instantly forgettable unless you have an aptitude for chemical names; inadequate labeling also makes their detection in a product difficult. So the best approach is to avoid as many synthetic chemicals as possible -you can do this either by making your own products or buying 100 per cent plant-based products that have no added chemicals.