Sustainable Living

TRANSPORTATION

I’ve already stated that air travel is the worst. I have to come to terms with my impact of flying and one way I feel a little better is that when I travel abroad I usually stay for an extended period of time. It makes the expensive ticket worth it, and I’m not jet setting around after spending just a few days somewhere. For me, that’s a start.

TIPS

• HUMAN-POWERED TRANSPORT

  • Hiking, biking, rowing, etc is my preferred way to travel and to see a country as it makes you slow down allowing you to really experience your surroundings intently. That’s one big reason as to why I do the long hikes and such that I do. I’m able to combine my love for traveling and seeing new landscapes, people, etc. with engaging my physical body through motion, as well as simplifying my life by removing extraneous objects and thoughts revealing my most basic needs. For me, these kinds of trips are usually the most memorable and life changing. Although I might have to use fossil fuels to get to a starting point I am then able to rely on my body to get myself somewhere else and cut out further fossil fuels.

    • I’ve hiked through 14 states on the Appalachian Trail plus 4 countries in Europe and Asia. I’ve biked through 2 countries in Europe as well as 3 states on the Natchez Trace. And I’ve rowed one of the longest rivers in the world, bordering 10 states on the Mississippi River. These challenging adventures are not only remarkable for their beauty but for the friends I made, cultures I experienced, self introspection I worked through, and the confidence and pride I gained through achievement. I can’t recommend a thru-hike, bike, or river trip enough.

• TOURING CITIES

  • Walking while touring around cities is one of the main ways I get around. For instance, this past summer backpacking around Europe sometimes I would arrive to a place not knowing what exactly to see so I would go off on a walk. I believe it’s one of the best ways to see and get to know a city. Plus, you’ll most likely stumble upon something you would never have seen if you hadn’t gone out walking. Some of my favorite experiences traveling were moments in which I found something on a walk.

    • I also walk in order to say money. One time in Scotland I walked twenty minutes in the rain with two suitcases to catch the airport bus rather than paying 20pounds for a taxi to the airport. Plus I feel more comfortable walking places where I don’t have to depend on anybody else to get me somewhere.

  • Some cities have “free” walking tours. Free usually means a donation, but I found that these can be a nice way to hit the highlights of a place if you don’t know where to start.

  • Some cities also have bicycle rentals which can be a fun way to explore a new city. For instance in NYC I’ve used Citibike to tour around Central Park, Times Square, and Brooklyn.

• PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

  • It all comes down to where you travel as to whether or not there is good public transportation. Bigger cities will usually have a metro and bus system. Europe has great infrastructure for train travel.

  • I used Flixbus the majority of time when I traveled around Europe.

  • When in cities I mainly use subways. I don’t usually feel comfortable taking taxis or ubers, plus I get to know how the city is laid out better when I learn a city’s subway system. And of course public transportation is less expensive than taxis.

• ROAD TRIPS

  • If I am driving to a job or on a trip I drive my small Toyota Corolla that I converted into my Camperolla. I’ve had the same car since I was 16 and it gets really good gas mileage.

    • Camperolla- I took out the passenger seat and part of the back seat and put in a plank so I can sleep in my car. Or I will set up a tent. This way I am reducing my costs as well as reducing my footprint by not staying in a hotel where electricity, water, and packaging, are used.

    • I use Freecampsites.net to find places to camp which are usually on public lands with the occasional rest stop.

LUGGAGE

When you think about it the more weight(=cargo) the plane has, the more fuel it will need to use and thus it will emit more carbon dioxide. For this reason, it is a great way to practice minimalism. If I can, I try and travel with only a carry-on. It also eliminates a checked baggage fee and keeps you from buying and bringing back unnecessary items.

tips

• Bags

  • I always pack a reusable bag that I can either use for my carry on bag and then once at location I use as a purse when going out, for grocery shopping, or regular shopping

• Toiletries

  • If I am packing lightly I may have to use smaller containers for products. Rather than buying new smaller size products I will use reused bottles and put the products in those. Then as for others, same applies to normal. I use package free soap, shampoo, and conditioner bars rather than those products in plastic bottles.

• Reusable water bottle and coffee cup

  • I always take a reusable water bottle with me and depending on where I go I may also take a reusable coffee cup. When I go up to work in NYC for a month at the U.S. Open I take my water bottle, coffee cup, spoon, and stainless steel straw because I eat at catering three times a day and that’s a way I can reduce my plastic waste there.

• Water Filter

  • If you’re traveling to a place where you are advised not to drink their tap water then it might seem that the only alternative is to buy bottled water; however, taking a small water filter may fix that issue. Depending on where you’re going and the source of the water will depend on what kind of filter you need (for ex. if you need to kill viruses as well as bacteria and protozoa).

    • For instance when I went to Nepal I took my Mini Sawyer Squeeze, the same water filter I use on backpacking trips. I used it to filter water along the Annapurna Circuit trek, but I mostly got the water from streams. Occasionally I would also filter tap water. That filter claims to remove 99.99999% of all bacteria and protozoa, as well as 100% of microplastics (sawyer’s website). But mircrofilters do not remove viruses which is the third waterborne threat in addition to bacteria and protozoa. Therefore, if in a place where you need to treat that you must use a purifier (or boil your water).

ENERGY

When staying in hostels or hotels while traveling, you can try and reduce your energy use.

tips

• Take the stairs

  • Skip the elevator and get some exercise by taking the stairs

• Portable Solar Panel

  • While rowing the Mississippi River I used a Goal Zero Nomad 7 solar panel to charge my phone, camera, and bluetooth speaker. As I was camping every night and did not have access to a grid it proved invaluable.

FOOD

tips

• On the Plane

  • Take a premade meal for the plane so you are not tempted to buy expensive airport food (=packaging) once there. Fill your reusable water bottle once you pass security so you don’t have to buy something or get drinks in plastic cups once on the plane.

• Local Farmers Markets

  • Cities around the world have marketplaces. Markets are great sources for local fresh produce that is usually package free unlike at grocery stores. And culturally speaking, markets are notoriously a meeting place and a great way to see locals in their element. The busy atmosphere is exciting to witness and you’ll always find something you’ve never seen before. Also, I find marketplaces to be great photographic opportunities. I’ve checked out local markets from Bangkok to Barcelona to Bogotá.

• Foodie Tour

  • I find a great way to get a feel for a place is by eating local cuisine. And when being in bigger, more cosmopolitian cities it’s a great opportunity to check out quality vegan and vegetarian restaurants, that I wouldn’t have access to back home. That’s why recently when I was in Amsterdam I searched out vegetarian restaurants to try and found three really neat places. Also recently when I was in NYC I went on a self-made vegan foodie tour inspired by an instagram account @howtobeveganinthehood. It made it an adventure as well as getting me to new areas of the city.