When it comes to travel, the sad truth is the less of it we do, the better. This is especially true for air travel.

But a world without travel would be even sadder. We need to experience other cultures to broaden our perspectives, eliminate racism, and live rich, rewarding lives.

We also need to move around our everyday world — to work, to school, to shop, to socialize. Where I live, in a rural British Columbia mountain village, this involves a lot of driving.

One day, maybe all of this — air travel included — will be electrified. And maybe that electric grid will be powered with wholly renewable energy. Until then, here are some ways we can move around our lives with as green a footprint as possible:

1. Use Public Transportation:
   • Trains, Buses, Streetcars, Subways, Skytrains — These move lots of people at once, making each passenger’s footprint that much lighter.
2. Carpool or Share Rides
   • not always convenient, but if you find a way to make it work, super.
3. Ride a bike
   • Or walk, if it’s a short enough distance.
   • They double as exercise, too!
4. Fly Smart:
   • Direct Flights: Way more efficient than multiple short flights — and you’re less likely to lose your luggage.
   • Fly Economy: Taking up less space onboard is more fuel-efficient per passenger — more efficient on your wallet, as well.
   • Offset Carbon Emissions: I question this one. Many airlines offer programs to offset your carbon footprint. In theory, paying for a carbon offset can fund projects like reforestation or renewable energy initiatives — so feel free to go this route if you feel confident about where your money is going. Personally, I’d rather use the same money and donate it to an eco-savvy political party (like the Green Party of Canada) or directly to a clean tech initiative.
5. Drive Smart:
   • Electric Vehicles: These save a ton of fuel, but despite government subsidies, EVs are still a big investment that not everyone can afford. (I drive one and love it, but the gas savings do not compensate for the difference in purchase price.) Still, if it’s within your budget and you want to drive a car of the future, these are a great choice. I was just given a referral link for $1000 off a new Tesla — or $1300 in Canada — enjoy it if it works for you! (We’re enjoying our Model Y a lot.)
   • Hybrid Vehicles: My car before this was a Prius. It was great on gas, drove reliably for 13 years, and I would highly recommend this to anyone who asks (or who doesn’t).
   • Plug-In Hybrids: A neat combination between the two. They give you your first several miles on electric energy, then switch to an efficient (hybrid) gas usage after that. I’ve never owned one, but have friends who swear by them.

On the fence about whether EVs are really better for the environment? Here’s a fun video I collaborated on a few years ago when I was shopping for my first EV. It uses research from the Fully Charged show.