Learn how to ‘go green’ and get ideas about eco-friendly travel and living here!

Living Green: Testimonials & Best Practices

Bus Pool to the Regional
Bike Commuting at the New Jersey Field Office
Green in the Extreme
New Mexico: Getting Off the Electric Grid
Exceptionally Green in Flint Hills
Sustainability at Monona Terrace



Green Travel Tips
Before you leave home:

  • Appliances, such as TVs and cable converter boxes, should be unplugged
    as they can draw or leak as much as 40 watts per hour even when they are off.

  • Stop your newspaper. You may be able to donate it to a school
  • Adjust your AC/heat to ‘vacation’ or lowest setting.

Go Green!

Travel:

  • If you’re looking to minimize the carbon footprint of your flight consider the following:
    if every passenger on a flight in the next year packed one pound less of luggage,
    we would save enough fuel to fly a 737 around the world 474 times! So pack light, if you can.

  • Try to avoid a layover and choose a greener airline if you are able.
  • Take advantage of electronic check-in at the airport and hotels.
  • Use public transportation when available
  • Use the hotel van or share taxis.
  • Bring and re-use a water bottle and or a coffee container.

Hotel Stays:

  • Take part in the linen and towel re-use program. If all participants staying more than one
    night did this we’d conserve over 11,000 gallons of water.

  • Try to reduce the amount of water used for bathing or showering
  • When you leave your hotel room, turn off the AC/heat, lights, TV and radio. Close the drapes
  • If the hotel offers a daily paper when you check-in, pass on it unless your intend to read it.
    If you do get the paper, pass it on to someone else or recycle it.

  • Participate in any recycling programs that the hotel offers
  • Bring your own amenities from home and leave any bottles of unopened amenities in your room.
  • Keep bar soap wrappers and take used bars of soap home.
  • Check out of the hotel via the hotel’s electronic program available on the TV in some hotels.
    You can review the bill, approve and help reduce paperwork.

Go Green!

Food/Restaurants:

  • Reduce fast food waste whenever possible
  • Avoid Styrofoam, carry your own water bottle or coffee container.
  • When offered individual packages of condiments, take only what you will use.
  • Try to avoid room service and carryout.
  • Pack a few plastic bags, they come in handy for saving half-eaten treats,
    used hotel bar soaps and many other uses.

EcoTourism:

  • Take only the brochures or maps as necessary. Return others to the stand.
  • Don’t buy endangered species products.
  • Leave only footprints. Take everything that you brought with you.