Recycling While Traveling

You might not think that you can still be an environmentally conscientious individual while traveling because you have no way of controlling what the hotel does, but there's actually a lot of ways in which you can stay green while visiting exotic places with family and friends. If you follow the following tips, you'll not only help the environment while you're away, but you will also save some money for when you get back.

The best way for you to reduce and recycle while hopping about on vacation is to do so before you leave your home or apartment. Turn down the thermostat and the water heater before you head out the door. Since there won't be anyone inside your residence, there's really no reason to keep it heated, especially since many heaters have a vacation setting. If you happen to have plants, make sure you don't put the thermostat down too low in order to avoid coming home to plants that have been killed by the frost.

Turn off your outside water source in order to reduce the wasted water while you're away. Not only will you not be wasting water, but if some sort of emergency should occur like a broken pipe, you won't have as much damage to clean up. Once you get back from your vacation, it is important to turn the water on slowly, looking for leaks as you do so.

Consider putting your newspaper delivery on hold for a few days or weeks to reduce waste. If you're not going to be reading it, there's no sense in letting it just pile up and then end up in the garbage. If you don't particularly want to put it on hold, ask your neighbors if they'd like the paper. If not, you can always donate it to a nearby school.

If you have a water bed in your home or apartment, turn down the temperature on it as well while traveling. Often, a ten degree difference will impact how much energy your home requires, which will thereby make your bill smaller. If your fridge makes ice cubes, make sure you turn it off before you go. That way, if it breaks while you're out of town, you won't come home to find tons of water damage.

Unplug electronic devices before you leave your home to head to the airport. Your television, computer, VCR, appliances, cable converter boxes, stereo, and other equipment do not need electricity if there is no one around to watch or use them. Leaving them plugged in will often draw up to forty watts of energy from the circuit per hour, even if they're off. Your electronic devices can cost you money while you're gone even if turned off, so make sure they're all unplugged. If you do, your vacation will be greener, and you'll find your wallet a little more packed than you would otherwise. It is very possible to recycle and reduce while on vacation.