Exploring the World Without Harming It
As someone who’s passionate about both clean energy and travel, I’ve often wrestled with the contradiction: How do I explore new places and cultures while minimizing my impact on the planet? The good news is—you don’t have to give up travel to be environmentally responsible. With a few simple changes, you can reduce your carbon footprint and still enjoy meaningful experiences around the world.
Choose Greener Ways to Get There
The first and biggest environmental impact of most trips comes from how we get there. Air travel, in particular, emits a large amount of carbon. While avoiding flying altogether isn’t realistic for many of us, there are smarter ways to fly.
Look for non-stop flights, which use less fuel than flights with layovers. Book with airlines that invest in sustainable aviation fuel or carbon offset programs. Some carriers, like JetBlue and Delta, are making real progress in this area.
And when possible, consider taking the train or driving a fuel-efficient or electric car. In many parts of the South—where I’m from—there are beautiful places you can reach without needing a plane at all.
Stay Somewhere That Shares Your Values
Your choice of accommodations can make a big difference. I always look for hotels or rental properties that prioritize sustainability. That might mean using renewable energy, practicing water conservation, offering recycling, or sourcing local food.
Websites like BookDifferent, EcoHotels, or even filtering options on Airbnb make it easier to spot eco-friendly places to stay. Bonus: many of these places are run by locals, which means your money stays in the community and supports local economies—another win for sustainability.
Pack Light, Pack Smart
Packing less doesn’t just save you the headache of heavy luggage—it actually reduces the weight the plane or car needs to carry, which means less fuel used. Choose multi-purpose clothing, reusable items (like water bottles, utensils, and bags), and ditch single-use plastic whenever you can.
Another personal habit of mine: bring your own travel-size toiletries in refillable containers. It’s a small change that adds up over time.
Support Local, Sustainable Businesses
When you arrive at your destination, look for ways to support local artisans, farmers, and tour guides. Avoid chain stores and mass-produced souvenirs. Instead, buy handmade items or food grown nearby. These choices reduce the environmental impact of shipping goods long distances and help sustain small, local economies.
In my travels across the South, I’ve found some of the most rewarding experiences come from chatting with a local vendor at a farmers’ market or joining a guided tour run by someone born and raised in the area.
Rethink How You Get Around Once You’re There
Getting around once you’ve arrived is another chance to make sustainable choices. Instead of renting a car, try biking, walking, or using public transportation. Many cities now have electric scooter or bike-share programs, which are not only fun but lower your environmental impact.
If you must rent a car, choose a hybrid or electric vehicle. The infrastructure for EVs is growing rapidly, especially in the southern U.S., and many hotels and public spots now offer charging stations.
Be Mindful of Natural Spaces
Whether you’re visiting a national park, a beach, or a quiet mountain town, always remember to respect nature. Follow Leave No Trace principles: don’t litter, stay on marked trails, and never disturb wildlife. Even actions that seem harmless—like feeding birds or collecting shells—can have long-term effects on ecosystems.
As a renewable energy executive, I see firsthand how our actions affect natural resources. Traveling sustainably is one way we can each take personal responsibility for preserving the beauty we enjoy.
Offset Your Emissions When You Can
Carbon offsets aren’t a perfect solution, but they can help balance out the unavoidable impact of travel. There are plenty of reputable programs—like Gold Standard or Cool Effect—that let you fund projects such as reforestation, renewable energy, or methane capture.
I try to calculate my carbon footprint after each trip and offset it accordingly. It’s an easy habit to build, and it feels good to know you’re doing something proactive.
Final Thoughts: Travel That Gives Back
Sustainable travel isn’t about guilt or perfection—it’s about being thoughtful. The more I travel, the more I realize how interconnected our world really is. Every choice we make, from where we stay to how we move, has a ripple effect.
As someone who works daily to push clean energy solutions forward, I believe our personal choices matter just as much as our professional ones. You don’t need to stop seeing the world. Just choose to see it in a way that helps preserve it for the next generation.
Let’s keep exploring—but let’s do it wisely.