Vacation is a time to unplug and relax. However, the Earth requires us to not take a vacation from our sustainability and energy conservation goals. Our normal actions for conserving energy and other resources can still be done while on vacation, it just takes a little planning.
Items to take with you, if driving
Take a cooler of snacks and drinks instead of stopping at fast food restaurants or gas stations. This will reduce the amount of plastic trash produced.
Include cloth napkins that you can wash at your destination (either at a vacation home or in your hotel room sink and hang to dry).
Make sure to bring dish soap that way you can wash reusable water bottles, coffee cups, and napkins (if you don’t have laundry facilities). Use a reusable bottle and fill from your large bottle of dish soap at home.
Laundry supplies (detergent, fabric softener) can be brought in smaller reusable bottles too. This is useful if you are staying at a vacation home where you have access to laundry facilities.
Reusable silverware packs can be used for the car trip, picnics, in a hotel room, or anywhere that disposable would typically be used.
Drinks provide many options for conservation. Bring your reusable water bottles and coffee cups. If you do not have access to a coffee maker at your destination, there are great travel ready options, so you don’t have to get takeout every time. An AeroPress and an electric tea kettle are perfect for traveling. If you have a refrigerator in your hotel room or rental home, buy drinks in larger containers and use your reusable bottles to make individual drinks.
Take plenty of towels/washcloths for spills instead of paper napkins or paper towels, and make sure to add a waterproof bag to put them in while driving or away from your vacation space.
Plan your trip along the way – choose camping or hotels that are environmentally friendly (look at their mission statement/ practices for energy efficiency).
Choose restaurants that choose local! Less travel for ingredients is always a good thing.
Things to do while at your hotel, campground, or rental house
Treat the room or house as you do your own home. Turn off the lights and tv, keep the thermostat at a reasonable temperature or open windows if it is cool enough. In other words, do not waste resources.
Make sure to recycle items that are recyclable. Most hotel rooms and campgrounds have designated areas or bins for recycling. In a rental home, ask the owner/agent if they offer recycling. If they don’t, look for the local recycling center.
Take time to enjoy the natural environment that is nearby. Most activities such as hikes and relaxing on the beach requires only the energy used to get to the location, the rest is human powered.
Using a vacation rental home saves a lot of energy. You can control the thermostat. There is access to a full kitchen which allows you to prepare food instead of eating out. It also gives you the opportunity to eat local by visiting the local farmers’ market. Most kitchens are fully stocked with reusable dishes and cookware. Laundry facilities are pretty standard, allowing for the use of cloth napkins and cleaning cloth that you can just throw in the washer at the end of the day.
With the uptick in Covid recently, make sure to bring your cloth masks that can be washed and reused.
Taking the time to relax and recharge does not have to come with a hefty environmental cost.