Sun, sand and sustainability – tips for an eco-friendly holiday

25 July 2013

Doug Stewart the CEO of Green Energy UK shares his tips with Travel Daily

Despite the recent heat wave, studies show that 73% of Brits plan on taking a holiday abroad in 2013. With this in mind, Doug Stewart, CEO of Green Energy UK shares his top tips for how clients can make their summer holiday the most eco-friendly yet.

Imagine the scene – clear skies, lapping waves, and an ice-cold drink in hand; it’s something we all crave after a difficult year at work. Although this could easily be confused with a weekend on the south coast due to the scorcher of a summer we’ve been having, 73% of us Brits still plan on shunning Blighty for a week or two away this year.

If your clients is one of these or is currently planning a holiday with you, it is worth them knowing about the environmental impact of the choices before jumping on the plane and how holidaymakers can offset the carbon created by travelling, however un-glamorous it sounds! To help, I’ve gathered some tips and tricks on how to make holidays the greenest yet.

First up, the airport. Plenty of airports are dedicated to cutting their emissions, with East Midlands being no exception. The centrally-located airport was voted the greenest in the UK, thanks to the installation of two wind turbines, which produce 5% of the sites energy and save 300 tonnes of CO2 per year, ground pump heaters and water recycling facilities. When travelling to the airport, ask clients to weigh up the options to drive or take the train – if it’s a group it may be greener to all pile into the car!

Don’t forget the airline, either. Air France has recently been named the greenest in Europe, with Lufthansa, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic all following suit. Named as the world’s greenest airline in 2011, Monarch is also high on the list, thanks to its fleet’s efficiency – so there’s plenty to choose from.

Next up is where to stay. Not only beautiful, Iceland is one of the most sustainable countries due to 82% of its electricity and heat being sourced from hydrogen and geothermal outlets. If clients fancy somewhere a bit more exotic, Costa Rica and Cuba are also high on the list, as well as others closer to home including France and Switzerland, and for those after a city break – Barcelona, Spain. Travellers could even opt to stay in a tropical eco-resort, too, Fiji, Bali and Vietnam are home to some gorgeous ones – the list is endless!

Encourage clients to live like a local while on holiday and make their way on foot or by bus – they will save money on petrol and hire car fees, reduce the carbon footprint and get a bit more of a feel for the culture – très bon!

Finally, if clients decide to stay on home soil, seaside towns Brighton and Bristol rank within the top five eco-friendly places (and do good fish and chips, too). Just remember that being green doesn’t have to be a chore – it can be easy, fun, and you may even discover a new favourite holiday destination – enjoy!