Getting there green: minimize holiday travel C02 emissions

How did that happen? The holidays are upon us once again. It seems not all that long ago, Seattle was sweltering under record breaking heat that brought the highest temperatures in 118 years.

In the blink of an eye Christmas decorations are in retail stores right next to the fall items and Halloween costumes, goblins, spooks, pumpkins, and corn stalks. The days of not seeing hints of Christmas on the shelves until after Halloween have been gone for years now—never to return.
There’s no escape. So, might as well dive in and make the best of it.

Along with all the holiday decorating comes the travel planning. The airlines have already started to hike their fares, so the sooner the better.

It is the busiest travel season of the year, with the largest percentage of US greenhouse gas emissions from all the C02 belching modes of travel, including planes, trains, and automobiles. According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), travelers take 54 percent more long-distance trips (50 miles or longer) during the Thanksgiving holiday than the rest of the year, and 23 percent more between Christmas and New Year’s.

Unless you are only traveling a few miles, using a bicycle or walking, which are the basic emission free modes of travel--would be out of the question. Especially, in winter weather.

So, how can families travel “green” during the holidays? The following excellent tips, information, and suggestions are from the Union of Concerned Scientists:

*Pad your schedule. If possible, start your trip a day earlier and/or return a day later. You’ll not only avoid the stress associated with peak travel times, but reduce emissions as well. For example, when a car is stuck in traffic its fuel consumption rate can be double the rate at steady cruising speeds. If you must travel on peak days (most weekends), schedule your trip for non-peak hours and, if driving, use a GPS system with real-time traffic monitoring to avoid congested roads.

*Traveling with family? Make it a road trip. The BTS reports that 91 percent of long-distance holiday travelers go by car. On a 500-mile trip, a family of four traveling in a typical SUV actually produces less carbon per person than flying or taking the train. If you can, though, leave the SUV at home and drive a hybrid or fuel-efficient conventional car instead—in addition to consuming more gas, SUVs emit up to four times more carbon than the most efficient hybrid. If you don’t own a hybrid, consider renting one.

*Fly the eco-friendly skies. First-class seating requires twice the space of coach and therefore produces twice the amount of carbon emissions per passenger, so always choose coach. Next, minimize the length of your trip by flying the most direct route, and minimize carbon-heavy takeoffs, landings, and ground operations by flying nonstop. If you’re traveling solo, flying nonstop coach is actually better than driving any car—regardless of the distance traveled.

*Get on the bus. No matter how many people are traveling with you, a bus pays the biggest environmental dividends. A couple traveling by bus, for instance, generates between 50 and 75 percent less carbon than flying or driving (especially on trips under 500 miles). Bus fares are often cheaper than airline tickets, and many now have similar amenities.

As more people are becoming aware of the carbon footprint they can personally control in the form of recycling, using energy efficient light bulbs, unplugging computers and appliances, and driving fuel efficient cars—they become more acclimated to thinking “green” in common sense ways. It should also include the same travel considerations and awareness of emissions by whatever the chosen mode of travel is--all year round—not just the holidays.

***Want to have a bigger impact on environmental issues? Add your voice to more than 170,000 online activists with the Union for Concerned Scientists..

***Copyright DelilahStarling 2009.