Eco-friendly vacations becoming more popular
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Late Spring and Summer are when many set aside time to get away from their everyday lives.
Shannon Casey, a marketing specialist with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's (TCEQ) Take Care of Texas (TCOT), spoke with KXAN about how to ensure a vacation is sustainable.
Casey suggested that travelers pack lightly -- there's a tendency to overpack that some have. A benefit of this is that you could save money by avoiding airline baggage fees. She also recommended bringing toiletries such as shampoo and conditioner in refillable containers.
Some hotels are green-certified, including those with the LEED program (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). These hotels were built for sustainability with energy and water-saving efficiency as part of their designs.
Do you always need to have your room cleaned every day? Personal experience says, "no", you don't. It's not always necessary to have your bed made every day. Do your towels need to be changed every day, too? Well, if you're not changing your home towels on a daily basis then you might not need this when staying at a hotel.
Casey also said that activities like hiking, canoeing, and dining at local restaurants can make a difference.