Going Green With Our Summer Vacation

Soon we leave for a weeklong family vacation, and I wondered about what ways we might green our summer getaway.

TRANSPORTATION

First, we’re not flying. That saves huge carbon emissions right there, especially for a shorter trip like Rhode Island to Maryland. Airplane take-offs and landings guzzle extra energy, which makes short flights particularly eco-damaging… although there are some cases where flying might be better than driving.

Taking the train or bus would be the greenest mode of transportation, however our 32-mpg Scion xB remains a pretty good car option. On the road, better fuel economy equals fewer dollars and fewer polluting emissions. Here are some tips for getting the best mileage on a trip:

• Check the tire pressure, as my dad never fails to remind me. Under-inflated tires require you to burn more gas to keep the car moving.

• Slow down. As speed increases, fuel economy decreases. According to Edmunds.com, the best way to improve fuel efficiency is to accelerate slowly and to brake over a longer distance. Aside from purchasing a new vehicle, this is the single most effective step you can take to reduce your costs.I can’t imagine driving 55 mph the entire trip, although this practice does emphasize the journey as the destination. Instead of viewing the nine-hour drive home as an ordeal, I might do well to check into fun stops along the way that could make the driving bit more of an enjoyable part of the vacation.

• Travel light. The more weight your car lugs around, the more fuel it burns. For every extra 250 pounds your engine hauls, the car loses about one mile per gallon in fuel economy. (from Bankrate)We don’t have a cargo carrier. We’re not bringing the bike rack. My challenge will be to pack light as we did for our spring Italy trip. Just because we have more space in a car than in an airplane doesn’t mean we have to fill it all. Better to bring fewer clothes and wash them there. We do this naturally when traveling abroad, so why not in America?

• On the highway, roll up the windows and turn off the air conditioner. This saves fuel and is good reason for leaving in the cool early morning before the sun begins beating down on your car. When you do need to cool off, it appears that having the windows open is more fuel-efficient for most cars when driving below 65 mph.

• I’d like to propose that rotating the musical selection between driver, spouse and child also has a beneficial effect on mileage. Because happy music makes a smooth, happy driver who is less likely to engage in agitated speeding or gas-guzzling jackrabbit starts.

LODGING

First stop: New Jersey, where we shall gift my mother-in-law with the fruits of our garden and cool off by swimming in our friends’ pool. (Shared resources —very sustainable!)

Then on to Maryland to spend the week with my sister and her family of four. We’ve decided to pitch a tent in her yard. Why? (1) Less interaction between her cat and my allergies, (2) Less chance of being kept awake by my newborn niece, and (3) For the pure fun of it! My three-year-old niece has never camped before and I can see her having a grand time with Sofie in the tent.

A backyard tent is the ultimate camping experience: you get the back-to-nature feel along with the comfort of indoor plumbing and a well-stocked kitchen.

FOOD

When my sister’s family and mine shared a beach house two years ago, much time revolved around cooking and dining. I imagine more of that next week. We’ll trade recipes, try new foods and gorge on the harvest from their six-bed vegetable garden. Talk about eating fresh and local.

On the road, we bring our own snacks and water bottles instead of consuming the empty-calorie fast food options that dot the highway.

Cooking at home is always more sustainable than eating out. With my sister being an eco-friendly vegetarian, I’m more likely to eat less meat, too. While in Maryland, I may attempt the challenge of eating and drinking completely local for one day. (It’s super green and would fill in one day of my 40 Days to Forty personal blog.)

With a new baby around, we’re not planning to stray far and will likely stick to visiting playgrounds, parks and local shops. My husband and I may check out this neighborhood near my sister. Called Liberty Village, it’s a cohousing community with many sustainable features including rain gardens, preserved wetlands, energy-efficient homes, gardens, chickens and an orchard. It could be right up our alley if we ever decide to move to Maryland.

Overall, I’m looking forward to bonding with my sister, drinking with my brother-in-law and meeting my new niece. Sofie especially is excited to see her cousins. This is not an exotic vacation by any means, but it’s fairly green, and it’s the family connection that will make this trip memorable.