| May 11, 2009 |  |
Budget Green Summer Travel Advice from the Union of Concerned Scientists
Summer vacationers can save money and lower their contribution to global warming at the same time, thanks to a handy travel transportation guide from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
"A summer vacation can be relatively inexpensive and 'green' if you know what to look for," said Jim Kliesch, a UCS senior engineer and primary author of the guide. "We've found that with a little bit of planning, consumers can save money with tips that save the planet, too."
UCS researchers calculated the amount of carbon dioxide -- the chief heat-trapping gas that drives global warming -- associated with travel in a variety of modes, including passenger cars, SUVs, planes, trains, and buses. Since trip emissions also depend on the number of passengers traveling, UCS evaluated trip emissions for solo travelers, couples and families of four. UCS concluded that while numerous green travel options are available, poor travel choices leave large amounts of carbon in a vacation's wake. For example, a poorly planned family-of-four vacation can result in more carbon emissions than are released by an entire year of the family's commute to and from work.
While UCS's analysis is focused on the environmental impact of vacation travel, the report does reveal a number of findings that can help the budget-conscious traveler:
Off-peak travel. Americans tend to favor Friday, Saturday or Sunday departures for trips, but these peak travel times result in higher emissions, gasoline bills and ticket prices. Travelers who plan to arrive and depart on a trip on Monday through Thursday can take advantage of lower airplane fares and avoid weekend and rush hour highway traffic. In 2007, airport delays were responsible for 8.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
Tacking an extra day or two onto a vacation can help you travel on off-peak days. That may be easier than many people think: Americans let more than a half-billion days of vacation go unused every year. Other tips include using a GPS system with real-time traffic alerts to save both time and carbon when driving. Some GPS manufacturers offer real-time traffic information with no extra charge, but others charge a subscription fee for the service. Consumers should consider the additional value of real-time traffic updates when shopping for a GPS unit.
Consider coach-only flights. UCS recommends that travelers who plan to fly consider budget airlines that exclusively offer coach-class seating. Because first-class seating takes up more space than coach seating, the average first-class passenger on a domestic flight is responsible for twice as much heat-trapping emissions as someone seated in coach. Some airlines have eliminated first-class seats. That can lower a plane's per-person emissions 10 to 15 percent and also allows the airline to reduce its fares. If traveling alone or with one other person, vacationers are usually better off flying direct in coach than getting behind the wheel of a typical vehicle, especially for trips of more than 500 miles.
Don't forget the bus. Motor coaches are generally the greenest vacation travel option. Compared with flying coach, a couple traveling on a bus will cut their trip's carbon dioxide emissions 55 to 75 percent, depending on the distance traveled. Compared to even a fuel-efficient hybrid car, a bus trip would cut a couple's trip emissions nearly in half. Bus travel is much less expensive than flying and can even be cheaper than driving. Some bus companies offer fares as low as $1 each way. Since there is no single online resource for booking tickets from different bus lines, travelers will have to search for those companies that serve their departure and destination cities. Additionally, many intercity buses now offer such amenities as wireless Internet connections and food service. Besides traveling from city to city, many tour operators offer guided bus services through National Parks, offering a lower-carbon way for vacationers to appreciate America's natural beauty.
Trains let travelers skip in-city travel expenses. Trains are another green option, especially those in the Northeast that run primarily on electricity. Trains emit 60 percent less carbon per passenger-mile than a typical car with a single occupant. And compared with a 500-mile trip on a small jet plane, a train emits roughly 30 percent less carbon. Trains also can save vacationers money when they are traveling between large cities. Train stations are often much closer to city centers than airports, allowing travelers to avoid renting a car or paying for a cab or shuttle into town.
When driving, take more passengers. More passengers in a car translates into much less pollution per person traveling. That is because a car uses most of the energy from burning gasoline to move the vehicle itself. Additional passengers and luggage do not add that much relative to a car's weight. Of course the kind of vehicle you have will make a difference. For a given distance of travel, a large, inefficient SUV, for example, emits nearly four times the amount of carbon dioxide emissions of a highly efficient hybrid such as a Toyota Prius. The SUV also uses nearly four times the amount of gas, costing that much more at the pump.
For more information, UCS offers answers to frequently asked questions about the travel guide.
The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.
