Traveling and keeping all your sustainable habits is not always easy. Depending on where you travel, some cities make it easier than others to protect the environment, and when you are a stranger to the area, it is just that much more difficult. However, every bit helps, and these four travel accessories are great examples of ways you can help the environment before you even leave home.

Platypus Soft Bottles—You save the environment; they save you space.

When visiting destinations where the tap water is safe to drink, bring your own water bottle with you. Not only will you save money, but you will avoid having to add to the 3 billion pounds of waste each year produced by plastic bottles that are not recycled. This way, you do not have to worry if you cannot find a recycling bin! Although any reusable water bottle without BPA and PET will work, sometimes space in your suitcase or carry-on can be a problem.

Platypus sells soft water bottles that fold up when empty, saving precious luggage space. These bottles are sold in lots of different colors and sizes, are completely BPA free, and are much lighter than the typical hard water bottle. The bottles are made in the United States, and less energy and materials are used to manufacture them, compared to the typical hard water bottle. Starting at around $7.00 (for a 0.5 liter bottle), the prices do not break the bank either.

Use eco-friendly footwear.

No matter where you plan on going this summer, chances are pretty good you are looking for new flip flops or sandals to replace grungy, old ones. This year, why not buy biodegradable ones? Feelgoodz sells fair trade flip flops made of top quality, all-natural rubber. This means you do not have to add them to a landfill when you want to dispose of them. Not only are they safe for the environment, but Feelgoodz claims that their flip flops are “curiously comfortable”. The flip flops are available in several different designs and colors for women, men, and children.

Before you throw out your flip flops from last year, check out Feelgoodz “Recycle your un-flop” campaign. You mail them your worn-out footwear, and they send them to Kenya where local artists transform your trash into “eco-boutique” items to be resold in Kenyan villages. Not only are you recycling your shoes, but if you join the Flipsquad, their rewards program, they will give you points towards a free pair. You can buy the flip flops directly online, or search for a store near you.

Travel-size natural bath products

If you are looking for green bath products, check out Indigo Wild’s Zum line. All their soaps and other bath essentials are made with all natural ingredients, such as goat milk, shea butter, natural oils, and vitamins. The ingredients are all listed on their website, and all their merchandise is vegetarian-friendly. Many of their products are also vegan and gluten-free. Products are sold in various sizes and with their travel-size zip bag, everything is under three ounces, so you do not have to worry about them not passing through airport security.

Record your journey with a tree-free journal.

Keeping a travel diary is a great way to remember your vacation and ends up being a priceless souvenir. If you do not already have a journal, consider buying one made with recycled materials. Several companies produce journals with recycled paper, but Ecopaper goes one step more.

Ecopaper makes journals and stationary products with tree-free paper. Their products are 100% recycled, produced from leftover materials from bananas, coffee, lemons, and mangoes. For example, their Banana Paper is made from the pinzotes (stems) of bananas.

Normally, these stems are not used for anything and can actually be harmful to the environment because their strange composition does not decompose fully. However, Ecopaper extracts fiber from these stems to create paper. Their website gives you in-depth information about how they make their paper, and their online store has numerous options of styles and sizes, all for very affordable prices.

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A recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Whirlpool Corporation reveals consumers want to make a habit out of saving time, money and energy with their home appliances. And as 2011 wraps up, they’re looking for more tools to help them do just that in the new year.

According to the survey 75% of consumers aged 18-34 have already taken ‘green’ steps, but they are looking to do even more to save energy, water and money. That’s something companies such as Whirlpool say they’re keeping in mind when it comes to product development.

“We are not surprised to see that consumers are devoted to living an energy-efficient lifestyle,” says Monica Teague, Senior PR Manager at Whirlpool Corporation. “Whirlpool is constantly innovating new products that conserve water and reduce energy consumption in order to help consumers live a more eco-friendly lifestyle.”

It’s a lifestyle many want and to which they are turning. And while 78% are interested in monitoring their household’s energy use – they’re hungry for more information on how to save. According to the survey, a quarter of those interested in saving are not at all aware of the energy and water usage of their appliances.

Many consumers have already made significant lifestyle changes in an effort to save energy and money. 65% of consumers already use ENERGY STAR qualified appliances and CFL light bulbs, 36% purchase green products when possible and 15% actually seek out green products, according to the survey.

And consumers seem willing to invest in saving money over time. Almost half of those who took part in the survey, 49%, said they would consider paying more money for an appliance if it would reduce their utility bills over time. Replacing appliances that were made before 2000 with ENERGY STAR qualified products can help save on both energy and water costs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), replacing a washer and refrigerator made before 2000 with such models can save up to $135 and $40 each year, respectively.

For those not currently in the market but still looking to save, there are plenty of ways for consumers to be more efficient using the appliances they already have in their home.

• According to the survey, 87% still pre-rinse their dishes (even though it’s unnecessary). By scraping and skipping pre-rinsing, consumers can save up to 20 gallons of water per load and by using the dishwasher, vs. hand-washing, save up to 230 hours per year (that’s a 10-day vacation!).
• Run your dishwasher, washer and dryer late in the evening to avoid the peak hours.
• Proper appliance maintenance like emptying the lint trap, vacuuming refrigerator coils and cleaning your washer on a regular basis can help keep appliances running efficiently.
• Use pots and pans with flat bottoms that fit the burners. A 6″ pot on an 8″ burner wastes over 40 percent of that burner’s heat. Using the right-sized pot can save up to $36 annually for an electric range, and $18 for a gas range.
• Don’t open the oven door during cooking; each time you open the door, you can lose about 25 – 30 degrees of heat. Try cooking with a full oven too, and using the broiler when possible, which uses less energy and does not require preheating.

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