Sustainable Steps

Travel Well

When it comes to travel, the sad truth is the less of it we do, the better.

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 need to stay connected to family far away.

We also need to move around our everyday world — to work, to school, to shop, to socialize.

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

Use Public Transportation

A great public transit infrastructure is a hallmark of a world that works. Trains, buses, streetcars, subways, skytrains — these move lots of people at once, making each traveler’s carbon footprint lighter. And it makes the world accessible for a much wider range of people than just adults who can afford cars and have the ability to drive them.

Where I live, our local public transit leaves a lot to be desired, but it’s helped me out of a jam a few times when I couldn’t have gotten out of town without it. I value it, I want it to be there, and I want it to be better.

The more of us who use the system, the more our local governments will prioritize improve its infrastructure. So I always feel good when I do use it, because that’s voting with my wallet for a world I want to see.

Carpool

Three kids in your neighborhood all going to the same birthday party a few blocks over? Start the party early by offering to pick up whoever’s on your way.

Ride A Bike

Or walk, or use a scooter… Human powered transit doubles as exercise, too — great for your health and the planet’s.

Fly Smart

Fly direct if you can. (Harder right now, with airlines cutting lots of direct route options because of said jet fuel scarcity.)

Fly economy (another easy one with the current economy — but it’s also a sustainable step because taking up less space on board is more fuel efficient per passenger).

Fly less often. While some air travel is unavoidable if you want to visit family far away or attend a work conference, leisure travel can be near or far. But for a family vacation? Take that flight money and see what kind of local luxury you can find — like eco-lodges or horseback riding ranches or other experiences that are out of your own ordinary and fun.

Drive Smart

Replacing your car? Look into the lowest emissions your budget will allow. Electric cars are the current gold standard, and not nearly as price prohibitive as they once were — especially since the used market is gaining EV stock. You can also look into hybrids, and plug-in hybrids — both burn way less fuel than a standard gas car.

On the fence about whether EVs are really better for the environment? Here’s a fun video from a few years ago when I was shopping for my first EV. I didn’t do the research or make any of the cool graphics, but I made the intro. (It uses research from the Fully Charged show.)

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