Green Vacations. Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of summer break and if you’re in Phoenix, Arizona like me you are already enjoying 100 plus degree weather. With that being said, it is time to flee our concrete oven and find a cooler and greener vacation destination.  Like the rest of our GreenStocksRock.com viewers you are concerned with the carbon (flip flop) footprint your vacation will leave behind; so here’s a short environmental manifesto that will keep your Green karma in good standing while you’re abroad.

Green Hotels. The EPA wants you to use Energy Star labeled hotels during your travels.  These hotels perform in the top 25 percent of their industry and use 35 percent less energy and emit 35 percent less green house gases. Don’t think that because they are Green minded you’ll be paying premium prices for it. Energy savings trickle back to the customer, so this is a big win for corporations, weary travelers, and Mother Earth. For a complete list of Energy Star hotels click here.

Train, Plane, or Car? Finding a Green hotel will be easy, but how can you protect the places you visit and reduce or at least compensate for the CO2 emissions that your summer plans will generate? Planes and cars produce the most carbon dioxide making trains and buses the best choices for long distance travel. Unfortunately, those options take up precious vacation time. If you decide to fly you can buy carbon offsets.  American, Delta, Northwest, and Continental Airlines all offer these programs.  If you don’t buy tickets directly from an airline, Expedia and Travelocity also offer carbon offset programs through a partnership with Terrapass.

Vroom, vroom.  Driving your car is the lesser of two carbon evils, but there are a few things you can do to make the trip safer for you and the environment. Make sure your car has had a full inspection. Have your oil changed, your tire pressure checked, and all systems go before embarking on any adventures. I know you’re probably driving a hybrid or fuel efficient car, why not take care of it? You’ll keep that great gas mileage and yourself out of scary, backwoods car shops. When packing your trunk, remember to pack light. Do you really need that car top carrier? When you are on the road, remember to drive the speed limit. Anything over 60 miles per hour decreases your gas efficiency. According to fueleconomy.gov every five miles over 60 is like paying an additional $0.24 cents per gallon of gas.