A GPS device might be handy when traveling, but if your phone contains one already, leave the GPS device at home.
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Though many vacation plans start with the fantasy of being freed --- if only for a week --- from the multitude of gadgets that rule our lives, the truth is the modern traveler tends to carry a suite of electronic devices, from laptops to smartphones to MP3 players. These gadgets certainly have their place in any vacation: In a pinch, stranded in an unfamiliar city, you can call up a map online, or disoriented in a wilderness area, you can call for help on a cellphone. And with a little effort, you can shrink the carbon footprint of your journey by choosing --- and using --- your travel gadgets wisely.
Consider what you really need on the average trip. In this age of slim, chic and multipurpose devices, it can be tempting to haul them all along so you feel connected to the virtual world. But the purchase and use of all those gadgets comes with an ecological price tag. If your smartphone already functions as a PDA, alarm clock, GPS and MP3 player, do you really need additional devices for those functions, especially on a short trip?
Look into wind-up or mechanically powered products like flashlights, radios, battery chargers and alarm clocks (see Reference 1). These translate the old-fashioned muscle power of hand and wrist into electricity. Not only are they less energy-demanding than battery-powered models, they provide a faithful service in an emergency situation when batteries are dead or electricity is out. Stick a flashlight in your vehicle and keep one in your daypack.
Harness the sun to run your gadgets. Some manufacturers are starting to offer media players that are solar-powered from the get-go, but you can also use the sun to recharge existing gadgets by purchasing a universal solar-powered charging station. These chargers have USB ports and can accommodate most smartphones, cameras, GPS devices and MP3 players. Being energy-conscious is always important, but it is particularly so in developing areas that don't have the infrastructure to support large power loads --- some remote areas may rely on fuel-dependent generators for electricity. Even in developed areas, electricity is often supplied by polluting, nonrenewable sources, so finding other ways to charge nonessential gadgets is an eco-friendly move.
Switch to more efficient batteries. A simple start is buying some rechargeable ones --- this way you're not motoring through pack after pack of disposable batteries on a gadget-reliant trip (see Reference 1). Investigate solar-powered battery chargers to further reduce the impact of battery-reliant gadgets.
Research green gadgets before purchasing them. Look for the most energy-efficient models. Also consider how much use you'll get from a gadget --- if an object has limited functionality or feels like an impulse purchase it's more likely to become obsolete and end up in the trash. Also look for devices that utilize recycled materials --- recycled plastics, for example --- and whose manufacturers have recycling programs already in place for outdated devices. There are plenty of resources, including the U.S. government's wide-ranging Energy Star program and EPEAT, an independent program focusing on computers, that rank electronics according to environmentally sustainable criteria.
Tips
- Use all of your electronic devices sparingly. This goes for the specially made "green" products and the old-fashioned energy-sapping ones alike. Turn off your laptop at the hotel or motel when you're not using it. While exploring a cultural site or natural area, turn off your cellphone: Not only do you conserve energy, but you also devote more of your attention to your surroundings and the richness of the moment.
- If you are switching over to a newer, more environmentally friendly device, take care to dispose of your old one with the same attention to sustainability. If an old cellphone or computer still works, donate it --- it may not be the most efficient machine, but at least you're recycling it in a manner that prolongs its use and will benefit someone who otherwise may go without. (See References 3)
Ethan Schowalter-Hay is a writer and naturalist living in Oregon. He has written for the "Observer," the Bureau of Land Management and various online publishers. He holds a Bachelor of Science in wildlife ecology and a graduate certificate in geographic information systems from the University of Wisconsin.
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