On Saturday, I travelled from Boston to Virginia by car for a family vacation. Some of the things that made the nine hour drive better were the air conditioner and lots and lots of water. At one point while stuck in traffic in Maryland, I started to notice how many water bottles had piled up around me and how many other cars were on the road blasting their AC’s. In this summer heat, it’s tempting to abuse our air conditioners and take as many water bottles as we need. It’s important to remember, though, that some of the methods we use to stay cool can be harmful to the environment. Use AC only when you really need it. Make sure you turn it off when you’re not around.

Here are a few tips that will help to reduce your carbon footprint:

• Keep the lights off during the day. If there’s sun streaming in the windows, there’s no need for them to be on and the lights might even make the room hotter.
• Walk or ride your bike. If you’re not traveling too far, these options are good forms of exercise. Trains, busses, and other forms of public transportation are all good alternatives to cars, as well.
• Use a BPA-free “reusable” water bottle instead of buying the plastic throw away bottles of water. They are very trendy right now and come in all different shapes, sizes and designs.

That’s all for now! Stay cool (and eco-friendly)!

-Julie