The most direct flight path (Day 350)…

February 13, 2008

air canada

First off — oh my god, Day 350, I’m so freakin’ close!

Ahem, now, moving on: Today’s change has to do with flying. I’ve greened my air travel in numerous ways already — carbon-offsetting my flights, peeing before I board, packing carry-on only, choosing the vegetarian meal — realizing, of course, that none of this changes the fact I’m still spewing tonnes of carbon dioxide into the air by choosing to fly in the first place.

But everyone has their green vices, and this is mine. So much like the way I’ve found zillions of ways to green my eating habits without going vegan, I’m gonna find every possible way to green my travelling without limiting my trans-Atlantic options (and the next option: Spain).

This time, then, I’m going to make sure that when I book my flights, I choose the most direct path, with as few stopovers as possible. It might mean I have to sacrifice the air miles I’d get with Air Canada, or that I take a red-eye instead of a day flight, or whatever. But in the end, direct flights are always faster, and because they don’t require multiple take-offs and landings, less fuel is required, then less pollution results.

Photo courtesy of caribb on Flickr


Lighter luggage, lighter footprint (Day 294)…

December 19, 2007

luggage

So I’m going to New York for a few days after Christmas — suggestions for things to do, places to see, food to eat and so on are more than welcome in the Comments section below. While a part of me wants to bring every pair of shoes I own, every cocktail dress and every shade of lipstick, I’ve resolved to pack it all into one piece of carry-on luggage.

Packing lightly, you see, is a very green thing to do: Every additional 10 pounds per traveler apparently requires an additional 350 million gallons of jet fuel per year (that’s enough to keep a 747 flying continuously for 10 years, just to give some perspective).

Going carry-on does have its problems — there are the liquid restrictions, of course, space restrictions and the annoyance of having to haul the case all around the airport. But it also means not having to wait for the bag at the other end, and there’s some peace of mind in knowing it won’t get lost (unless you happen to be the type who loses everything).

But most importantly, the less I bring with me, the less I’ll end up using and wearing, the less chance something will leak and spill all over my clothes, and the less laundry I’ll have to do when I get home.

Photo courtesy of Miha Miha on Flickr


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