GO GREEN & TRAVEL SMART, feel good knowing your choices helped the local environment and communities. Travel green and leave a small footprint and be rewarded with a BIG EXPERIENCE!
1. Plan Your Green Arrival
Victoria is well served by public transportation, offers excellent trails for walking, biking and hiking. If you need to rent a car, consider a “hybrid” vehicle and if you fly, please check and see if your carrier offers carbon offsets. Flying from Vancouver to Victoria, book with Harbour Air or Helijet as both are carbon neutral. When booking an activity, check to see if the are truly offering a sustainable, green product and openly promote that fact.
2. Use Public Transport
Rent a hybrid car or use hybrid taxis to get around. You’ll see Victoria in a whole new light from the top of a double-decker bus, alternatively, walk, cycle or try a Victoria Pedi-cab to get around.
3. Reduce Energy Use in Your Hotel Room
You can make a difference by turning down the heating or air-conditioning by just one degree. By switching the TV off stand-by you can reduce its energy consumption by 25 per cent. Always remember to switch off appliances whenever you leave the room turn off all lights.
4. Reduce Your Laundry
Laundry consumes almost 40 per cent of the average hotel’s energy for hot water. Be willing to use your towels and sheets for more than one day and help hotels reduce their energy use by at least five per cent.
5. Use Your Own Toiletries
A lot of energy goes into the production of the miniature soaps and shampoos available in hotel bathrooms which then contribute to thousands of bags of waste each year. Bring your own favourite toiletries and encourage hotels to stock refillable dispensers.
6. Minimize Waste
Reuse plastic bags or pack your own cloth or string bag to carry any purchases. Bring your own water bottle and some rechargeable batteries and a charger for your camera and other gadgets.
7. Support Independent Shops
Buy your souvenirs from small independent stores and support local traders. Their products are likely to be less energy-intensive in their production and you’ll go home with a unique memento. Look for activity, attraction and accommodation businesses who are carbon neutral and members of 1% for the planet or who may have some alternate third party verified accredited organization like Green Tourism Canada.
9. Recycle Your Guide Books or Use an App
Give them to a friend or leave them at your hotel for another guest to read. It also leaves your suitcase a little lighter! Also check out our travel app and you can dispense with the guide books altogether.
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