More people travel for Thanksgiving weekend than any other US Holiday. So much travel is terrible for the environment. Here are some tips:

1. Offset Your Flight.
If you’re planning to fly this Thanksgiving, your flight will have the greatest environmental impact–by far. 

Believe it or not, flying is twice as bad for the environment as driving a gas guzzling hummer to your destination, and three times as bad as taking the train!

“How so?”

Airplanes travel in the sensitive upper atmosphere and release a cocktail of greenhouse gasses–nitrogen oxides, soot, and CO2 (carbon dioxide)–all major contributors to global warming.

If your planning to fly this Thanksgiving consider “offsetting” your trip. Offsetting works by investing funds in sequestration or energy efficiency projects that absorb or prevent the release of a tonnage of CO₂ (carbon dioxide) equivalent to the amount of CO2 you released in your travels. For example, some offsetting programs plant trees to counterbalance the emissions of your flight. The trees produce oxygen and absorb CO2 to “offset” the amount of CO2 your flight has produced. Of course not flying at all is a much better idea, but I’m not going to insist you stop visiting Aunt Marla and Uncle Earl?

2. Drive Better
If you must drive this Thanksgiving, make sure your tires are properly inflated and your car is in good working order–you’re family will be safer, you’ll save money spent on gas, and you’ll reduce emissions.

The United States Department of Energy (USDE) reports that keeping the right oil in your car and changing it every 4 months (or 5,000 miles) plus a once-a-year air filter change can improve your fuel efficiency by 8% or more! Over the course of just one year, the USDE estimates that your average savings will be more than $150. Add in regular tune-ups to keep your car running the way it was engineered to run, and you’ll pocket at least an additional $50 a year in savings.

Before taking one of those family road trips, stop by the shop for a tune up and oil change. And don’t forget to inflate those tires. Many Americans forget to regularly check their tire pressure, and this definitely impacts your fuel efficiency – up to 3%. If you pressurize your tires and lighten up you load, you will save $50 a year.

3. Stay Home
Stave off stress and carbon emissions. 

Stay home for a cozy Thanksgiving with your immediate family.

Posted on November 17th, 2007 by Olivia Zaleski