4 Cheap Ways to Become an Eco-Conscious Traveler

Wow.

The responsibility for reducing the carbon impact of travel rests on the shoulders of many, from companies to nations. But the fact remains that the decision of each traveler is also important. So what can eco-conscious travelers do to reduce their impact?

Flying less frequently or farther away is one option, but not an attractive or viable option for many travelers. And buying carbon offsets or other price-intensive measures can help (in theory), but not everyone can afford them.

Fortunately there are many inexpensive or free ways to reduce the environmental impact of travel. In fact, some of them can even save you money.

1. Skip the premium cabin

Yes, flying in front of a plane is a dream. And using points and miles makes this dream a possibility for many. But it’s expensive — both in terms of cost and carbon impact.

An analysis by the World Bank’s Environment and Energy Team, Development Research Group estimates that first-class fares can cause up to nine times more emissions than economic fares because of the space they require on planes.

So, taking one flight in first class can equate to nine flights of the same distance in economy.

This is a win-win for the budget and eco-conscious traveler. Avoiding the markup on premium seats can reduce the cost and carbon impact of air travel. Your knees may not be thanking you for cramming into the economy chair, but the climate may be.

2. Use Google Flights’ new carbon feature

Google’s flight search tool is an excellent choice for travel experts and beginners. And recently added a carbon emission feature that makes it very valuable for eco-minded travelers.

The best part about this feature is that you don’t have to do anything to use it: It is entered into flight search results automatically. Google shows the estimated carbon dioxide emissions for each flight and highlights the option with the lowest emissions.

It acts as a behavioral boost allowing you to choose the most environmentally conscious option with all other variables remaining the same. In the example image, Qatar Airways flights are slightly more expensive and slightly lower emissions than Singapore Airlines flights.

However, in most cases, the lowest-cost airlines are also the least carbon-intensive. This makes it easy to make a small difference to the impact of your flight without spending a lot (or anything) more.

3. Not accepting rental car upgrades

Have you ever ordered the cheapest (and smallest) rental car, only to receive a much larger vehicle at the counter? It can feel like a small win—similar to an in-flight upgrade—but it comes at a carbon cost. Besides being cheaper, economy cars are also generally more fuel efficient. So upgrading to a sports vehicle is not always a good thing.

Just ask the car rental agency if a smaller car is available. You may get a few arched brows in response, but there’s no problem with taking a “downgrade.” Sometimes there aren’t any small cars available, which is a reason for the upgrade, but it’s worth asking.

This carbon-aware trick isn’t just free — it can save you money on gas.

4. Turn off the hotel air conditioner and heat it when you go out

Overall, the hotel room is quite efficient. They are much smaller and easier to heat, cool and light than ordinary houses. And they are generally built with energy conservation in mind (because hotel companies cover the costs).

However, for the most part, hotel rooms are under constant temperature control, even when unoccupied. This means you always step into the perfect room temperature environment when you return, but it’s also a waste of energy.

This one’s easy: Just turn off your heater or air conditioner when you leave your hotel room for the day. The minor inconvenience of a cold or warm room is easily offset by energy savings.

You could even raise your environmental awareness and consider booking a hotel that is committed to protecting the environment.

Underline

Being an environmentally responsible traveler is no joke. You don’t have to travel a lot, or buy a lot of carbon offsets, to make a difference. Small behavioral prompts like turning off the air conditioner or upgrading a rental car can make a big difference.

In fact, you can do this in two ways — saving money and reducing your carbon footprint at the same time.

The article 4 Cheap Ways to Become an Eco-Conscious Traveler originally appeared on NerdWallet.

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