5 Green Reasons to Take a Staycation

Green Reasons to take a Staycation

Summer is almost here.  Perhaps you are making your plans for the holidays.  While the idea of “vacationing” at home is not new, there are 5 green reasons to take a staycation this year.

If you haven’t heard the term “staycation,” you might have been removed from all media over the past 12 months!  In short, a staycation is taking time off in your own hometown, as opposed to traveling to a new location.

Not only can a staycation save you a lot of money, it can help save the planet. We’ve put together 5 green reasons to take a staycation this year:

1.  You will save fuel.  Of course, if you are not driving or flying long distances, you won’t need to fill up the gas tank as often.  Driving less can save significant CO2 emissions.  And, if you weren’t aware of the high environmental cost of flying, just check out “Flying the Greener Skies.”  It will make you seriously consider whether to book that next flight!

2.  You will save on the electricity and water for washing and drying hotel room sheets and towels.  I give a big thumbs up to the hospitality industry for helping people have a green vacation by offering ways for guests to decline daily changing of towels and sheets.  However, each time you check out, they will have to clean the room, change the beds and put up new towels.  Not to mention the A/C or heating costs associated with keeping the hotel room at your desired temperature.  If you’re sleeping and showering at home, you don’t have to worry about wasting energy to prep for the “next guest.”

3.  You’ll be able to eat green more easily.  Studies show that people on vacation tend to throw most healthy habits out the window.  Let’s face it, its easy to grab fast food on the run, or eat out at expensive restaurants.  When you enjoy a green vacation at home, you can stay true to your resolution to eat organic and/or stay involved in the local food movement (only purchasing food grown or raised within 100 miles of your home).  How nice to finish your staycation without the extra “luggage” of weight gain!

Talk about a green summer vacation!

4.  You’ll boost local tax revenues.  Any purchases you make will go directly into your own community.  This means parks, playgrounds and trails in your hometown benefit when you take a staycation.  You worked hard for your money!  Why not invest where you’ll be able to reap the benefits?  Don’t leave your cash in another city or state!

5.  Appreciation for local sights translates into green and frugal living across the board.  Once you take the time to explore the beauty of your own hometown, you may be inspired to take additional steps to preserve it.  Whether through litter clean-up, boosted recycling efforts, or working to create more green spaces, we hope that you find inspiration to put more into your town than you take out of it.  A little time to assess the current status of the amenities in your corner of the world will likely lead to a desire to protect it for the years ahead.

Simply, a green vacation is one that not only saves you money, but also minimizes your carbon footprint and provides a return on your investment right where you live.  I’m betting that you’ll discover quite a bit about both your hometown and yourself when you take a staycation this year!