Or Blogs

When packing to head out on your eco-friendly vacation, you’ll need to take your phone with you. Personally, I think any Smartphone is pretty green – by charging it, you’re essentially charging several items (camera, e-reader, phone) all in one. But can we make the rest of the phone more green?

Green Cases

Look into eco-friendly cases such as ones made from recycled plastic or different kinds of wood, such as bamboo. Several major companies (AT&T, Sprint) carry eco-friendly cases, as do many online stores. SigniCASE makes bamboo iphone cases, including this super cool one.

The Green App

Talk about making green travel a little easier for the technologically inclined. Want to track your carbon footprint while on the road? Many apps give you daily green tips, a solar/wind/water calculator, and help you to calculate your home’s energy audit. Many of these can be found for free and can do everything from helping you find green food on the road to finding eco-friendly places to stay.

Solar Chargers

Never underestimate the importance of a good solar charger for your Smartphone or iPad. Many of these can be found online. On average, a half hour of charge time gives you about an hour’s worth of chat.
Some, like this Solio Universal solar charger kit look pleasingly petite. The downside? Some chargers force you to be in total direct sunlight, which can be a headache if you’re not camping at that exact moment. The upside? Working with nature, rather then wasting electricity is a pretty big upside.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo by Kaveh_Pics

My father was a cyclist before the words “bike culture” were trendy. Once he discovered the joys of biking, he was unstoppable. The man went everywhere and could often be seen in a small Sunday morning cluster of riders, as they biked their way to the beach or up and down A1A. On rainy days, he had a stationary bike that he’d ride in front of the tv, watching panoramic vistas flash across the screen as he imagined himself in those places.

Bikes encourage you to dream. You can go a little faster and be a little more free when riding a bike. With eco-friendly bikes, however, you can save the earth a little bit more, while you’re enjoying all that independence and freedom.

Why Green Bikes

Green bikes are typically made from wood or other renewable resources. In 2008 an English student made one from cardboard that cost the American equivalent of $30.

Different Kinds of Green Bikes

Bamboo bikes are highly sustainable. Why? Bamboo grows fast and is also lightweight and sturdy, perfect for bikes. Not only does bamboo grow fast, but you’ll be able to zip along thanks to the lightweight bamboo. Prices range from a few hundred to a few thousand. Also, check out the Bamboo Bike Project, devoted to helping implement bamboo bikes in rural Africa. Folding bikes are also considered to be eco-friendly and may make the commute a little easier. Worried that it will get swiped from a bike rack? Take it in to your office or apartment with you and find ways to become part of a bike culture.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo by °Florian

Is your green hotel really green? Or is your hotel merely trying to dip into the pond of eco-travel? Here are some tips to separate the truly eco-friendly from the environmental pretenders.

Local Staff

A good sign of an eco-friendly lodging is to find out if the people employed by the hotel are locals. Are the tour guides and trail leaders ‘locally grown’? This is a key way for green hotels to give back. A good eco-friendly hotel should make the most of community involvement. Does the staff seem knowledgeable about the eco-friendly policies of their establishment?

Water

Several hotels give you the option to reuse towels and thus, conserve laundry (and valuable energy and water). When searching for a green hotel, be sure to find out more about their water conservation policies. Are there water saving devices such as water sensors or lo-flow shower heads installed in the bathrooms? Does the hotel kitchen use similar devices? Of course, make sure that you’re also staying aware of how much water you’re using, but make sure that the eco-friendly hotel supports your water-lovin’ efforts.

Recycling

Most hotels and business establishments recycle these days. Still, dig a little deeper and get curious. What kind of recycling does your green hotel do? Do they recycle paper or aluminum? Does the hotel or lodging participate in a carbon offset program?

Food

One of the best things about vacation is the food. However, make sure that the hotel you’re considering uses either organic or locally grown produce whenever possible.

By Marissa Cohen

Many bags including schoolbags, contain polyvinyl chloride, also known as PVC, commonly known as the “plastic poison,” a toxin that’s been linked to cancer, hormonal imbalances, and child development issues. Avoid suitcases, shoulder bags, backpacks, or pouches made with PVC.

Hemp Luggage

Focus on finding luggage that lacks PVC and instead is made of renewable resources, such as hemp. Hemp is a durable, green fabric that is anti-mold and anti-moisture. Hemp fabric – including suitcases made from Hemp canvas – also stays cool in summer and warm in winter. Not only that, but its amazingly durable, making wear and tear on the road (or in the air) unlikely.

Bamboo Luggage

Just like bamboo sheets, bamboo luggage has many, many benefits. They are hypoallergenic, durable, and absorb moisture. There are several cute bamboo travel bags out there. Several eco-friendly sites also carry bamboo blankets or eye masks, perfectly pairedwith a green, eco-friendly luggage set.

Solar Bags or Recycled Materials

Also fantastic for the green traveler are solar bags with easily chargeable pouches, perfect for charging cell phones or iPods. Often solar pouches can be purchased separately as well. Many online stores also offer luggage made from recycled materials. There are many, many different options for your green vacation.

By Marissa Cohen

I never thought my bathroom would start to have a green transformation, but it has. There’s a drying rack (also known as a clothes horse) sitting next to my tub. It’s right there, in front of the bathtub and the sink. As household items go, it looks cozy, quant, and helpful. I  feel like I’ve somehow traveled back to the days of Little House on the Prairie. I don’t mind it.

Upon learning that I could save hundreds of pounds of carbon dioxide emissions every year by drying my clothes on a drying rack or clothesline, I’ve set myself a challenge, namely to rack-dry as much as possible over the next month and then see if there’s a drop in my bill.

When I went shopping for my drying rack, I chose one that was tall (about 3 ½ feet) rather than some of the wider, shorter choices available, for the greatest space economy. Also, out of the several available at my local household goods store, pick the one that’s the most sturdy if you want to try larger items of clothing on it.

I haven’t stopped using a dryer for the larger things but so far, I’ve been hand washing small items like socks, underwear, or tee shirts – things that I can safely experiment with to see if they become wrinkly. Even if they do, it’s easy enough to get some steam going and watch the clothes slowly let go of the wrinkles. I’ve found it’s also a good idea to move the dryer rack outside into direct sunlight if I want to keep white fabrics looking bright. I’ve noticed, though, that, even in the brief time that I’ve been experimenting with drying racks, that colored clothing can lose their brightness if dried outside, so turning them inside out is a good idea. That’s another thing I’ve noticed about rack-drying your clothes. It forces you to slow down.

So far, we’re right on track. We may not know if we’re saving money yet, but we’re definitely helping the environment – and taking time to smell the roses as well.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo by storebukkebruse

The Desoto Hotel uses an array of fabrics in our top quality rooms. Bamboo sheets are just one of the types of sheets that we’re committed to using. Bamboo fabric is versatile, organic and antibacterial. Plus, they’re super soft and comfortable.

Bamboo Kills Germs

Bamboo bedsheets are antibacterial. Several studies show that bamboo fabric actually kills about 99% of germs.

Soft and Adaptable to Weather

The sheets also naturally adapt to the weather or room temperature, keeping you warm in the cold weather, and nice and cool in hotter weather. Why? Well, not only are the sheets softness wonderful for people with more sensitive skin, but the natural bamboo fibers helps to redistribute moisture, pulling any moisture deep into the bamboo fibers and away from the actual surface of the bedsheet.

No Pesticides, No Pests

Bamboo itself contains a natural antibacterial agent called bamboo kun. Thanks to the bamboo kun, bamboo plants don’t need pesticide or fertilizers to keep the pests away. The fact that bamboo kun changes form – from plant to bedsheet – doesn’t matter. Pests will still stay away from it.

Photo by Foilman

 by Marissa Cohen