Going green isn’t just a passing phase, trend, or lifestyle that happens to be momentarily en vouge. Traveling and maintaining a sustainable lifestyle is easier than you might think and it’s here to stay. Business travelers especially need to be conscious of the lasting impact they may be having on the environment. Between the hundreds of single-use products and rental cars, it’s easy to forget that a little forethought can go a long way when on the road.

We generally use every excuse we can to brag about our hometown of San Diego. We truly love it here and the natural beauty of the coastline we reside on plays a huge part in that. In order to continue to enjoy the natural world around us and preserve it for all the future business travelers (at least until they develop teleportation technology and we go out of business) we’ve got some simple tips that can help you do your part while maintaining your busy schedule!

  • Public Transportation

Well, we all know that sometimes the last thing you want to do after a long flight is hop on a public bus. But, not all municipal transit systems are the the same. If possible, consider utilizing public transit once you’ve settled into your destination as a subway or trolley can oftentimes beat the hassle of sitting in traffic in a taxi!

  • Renting a Car? Go Electric!

More and more, car rental services are catching on to the benefits of offering fuel-efficient/electric rentals. Take advantage! Not only can it save money on skyrocketing gas prices, you’ll avoid some serious air pollution. We’ve already covered a great eco-friendly travel company, Car2Go, and stand by the belief that if you haven’t started seeing them pop up in your hometown, you will soon.

  • Fly Non-Stop Whenever Possible

Take-off and landing account for almost 50% of a flights emissions according to GoGreenTravelGreen. Do the earth a favor and suck it up by taking a less convenient flight time that skips that layover whenever possible, your healthy children will thank you later!

  • Leave the Plastic Bottle Behind

Probably the easiest yet most effective tip on this list is to invest a few bucks in a re-usable water bottle. Preferably one that can also keep your coffee warm! Think about how many meetings, lunches, and Starbucks runs add up to hundreds of used bottles and cups each year. Actually, why not just keep a tally for a month and decide which would be easier for yourself.

  • Lights Out!

This is sort of a catch-all tip. It’s easy to forget that when you aren’t paying the bills, leaving the light on or running water adds up for someone. And by someone, we mean everyone. Do you duty and make sure you’re taking care wherever you stay the same as you would for your own home when it comes to electricity and water use. We know it sounds crazy, but, maybe even use the SAME TOWEL rather than a new one!? No, maybe we’re not quite there yet. One day. Of course, one could always avoid the wastefulness of staying in a hotel by utilizing a furnished apartment or corporate housing suite as well!

Thanks to IgniteMag and GoGreenTravelGreen for some helpful info!

Images: AndyvanDyke, RezHub