Planning a vacation? Make sure to check off the following list before you leave so you can still be Green even when you're out of town, otherwise you could be coming home to dead plants and utility bills for energy you weren't even home to use. After packing your suitcase take 3 minutes to do the following:

-Turn off all of your lights and unplug all of your appliances- just because something is turned off doesn't mean it's not using energy.

-Turn off your water-heater (if you can). Your house won't need hot water while you're away and you'll save a great deal on your utility bill.

-Set your newspaper subscription to 'On vacation' or have a friend/neighbour take over your newspaper while you're out of town.

-Water your plants as normal but keep all of them together in your bathtub (only if your bathroom has a window). The humidity of your bathroom will keep you plans healthy until you return.

Green Things During Vacation:

-If you can avoid flying, travel by bus, car or train to minimize your impact on the environment.

-Find an eco-friendly hotel using Greenhotels.com

-Skip souvenirs, especially resist the urge to bring back shells and sand in your luggage. Pictures are the best way to save memories, so save room in your suitcase and don't disturb natural ecosystems.

-Choose to bike instead of drive- it will be cheaper and a unique way to explore the town, plus it will help balance out any added vacation weight you may have gained.

More ideas for eco-tourism.

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