Traveling can cause major harm to the environment; whether you’re driving across the country, taking a cruise or flying from here to there, the planet can take quite the hit. However, some transportation services work hard to improve their sustainability.

Air Transport World recently delved into the airline industry naming the top eco-pioneers as part of its first Eco-Aviation Awards, and Southwest Airlines took home the big award, Mother Nature Network reports.

Southwest Airlines was named Eco-Pioneer of the Year for its sustainable initiatives. Here are just a few of its eco-achievements.

• Since August 2008, it has diverted more than 7,300 tons of waste from landfills.
• It implemented new eco and cost-friendly cabin interior Evolve, which includes seats crafted from leather alternative material and InterfaceFLOR carpet.

In addition to Southwest, Lufthansa Group received the Eco-Airline of the Year Gold Award. This particular airline works to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, while in the air and on the ground.

Be sure to visit Mother Nature Network for a list of other winners. In June, the winners will be officially honored at the ATW’s 5th Annual Eco-Aviation Conference.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons/MamaGeek

As part of our Earth Day series, here is a glimpse of photos from all over the world. Explore New Zealand, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Australia, Ecuador and Switzerland. Take in the beauty and see how remarkable our planet can be with just a little respect.

1. Rotorua, New Zealand

Nicknamed Sulphur City because of the city’s thermal activity, this cultural hub boasts bubbling mud pools and hot thermal springs. A smell of rotten eggs permeates the city, but if you manage to get used to the smell, a dip in the natural hot pools is a great way to spend the afternoon.

2. Hanauma Bay, Hawaii

This bay formed in a volcanic cone is home to a beautiful multicolored coral reef, but due to lack of information and shallow water, the high volume of tourists in the area caused significant damage to the ecosystem. Stricter measures are in place now to reduce overuse.

3. Punakaiki, New Zealand

Aptly named, pancake rocks are the result of limestone carved millions of years ago with layers of mud and clay fossilized on top. This geological phenomenon has created rocks that resemble, well, stacks of pancakes!

4. Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand

In such a temperate climate, this glacier’s icy existence is unique as it descends into a forest environment.

5. Mt. Monadnock, New Hampshire

Often regarded as New England’s most climbed peak, this easy daylong hike offers brilliant views of the surrounding areas, especially during fall. A past fire accounts for the bare, smooth rock, and lack of vegetation at the summit.

6. Daintree Rainforest, Australia

In northeastern Cairns lies an anomaly of a biome – a wet, humid rainforest amidst a desert of a country. The Daintree Rainforest hosts some of the world’s most unique flora and fauna contributing to the island’s isolation from other landmasses.

7. Paoehoe Lava, Ecuador

This lava’s unique pattern in its fossilization is caused by lava that erupts continuously from a cooler volcanic crust.

8. Vevey, Switzerland

Fun fact: Milk chocolate was invented in this picturesque lakeside town. Known to have some of the clearest air on Earth, Vevey contains a mountaintop monastery and a UNESCO Heritage Side vineyard.

-Kelisha Menon

Sustainability / Tour de Farms Biking Tours – Boston, Mass.
Urban AdvenTours, a bicycling organization in Boston, hosts various biking tours through the greater Boston area. The Green Building and Sustainability group tour highlights numerous buildings in the city that were constructed with sustainable measures. All tours include bike and helmet rentals.

For those planning ahead, Urban AdvenTours also sponsors the Tour de Farms to be held August 20. This special tour aims to highlight sustainable agriculture in the Boston region, visiting community supported farms and farmer’s markets. Bikers will get to sample food and learn about supporting local agriculture efforts.

Smolak Farms Educational Tours – North Andover, Mass.
Specifically tailored for family and school outings, Smolak Farms’ education tours take visitors on a tractor-drawn hayride through the farm to learn about both the history of the land the current crops grown. Participants get to try some of Smolak Farms’ original food products, such as the apple cider donuts, and the cost per person is only $7.

New Entry Sustainable Farming Project – Lowell, Mass.
The New Entry Sustainable Farming Project is run in part by Tufts University. Open to the public, NESFP hosts a few workshops a month that teach participants various skills related to farming and small-scale agriculture such as greenhouse management, food safety, and composting.

The NESFP has also started some really innovative programs such as the World PEAS (People Enhancing Agricultural Sustainability) program, a cooperative farming project that gives land to immigrants so they can make a living themselves through community supported agriculture.

-Kelisha Menon

Photo Credit: Flickr/Deborah Fitchett, Allyson Koerner

If you like understated elegance, a European feel, impeccable service and a wonderful city, give your valentine a trip to the Hotel Drisco in San Francisco, where the setting is divine, extra flourishes abound and love is in the air. What a perfect time to opt for their Romance Package, which includes a split of sparkling wine, locally made chocolates, silk rose-petal turndown service and late checkout. One could swoon just thinking about it!

In addition to upscale guestroom amenities (a good mattress, fine linens, free WiFi, a large-screen HDTV, a safe, a plush robe, an iron and the daily paper delivered to your room) Hotel Drisco also offers some fun and useful things, like a pillow menu, an iPod docking station, free HBO, a DVD player and free lending library, an umbrella, a yummy gourmet honor bar, nightly turndown service with chocolate shortbread cookies, a free pass to the Presidio gym (there’s also a small gym on-site) and my personal favorite, a long-handled shoehorn.

You can employ the long-handled shoehorn to help you slide into your shiny shoes – the hotel offers a free overnight shoeshine service. Très continental. In fact, you might need the shoehorn to get into your shiny shoes, if you do much walking. Remember, you are in Pacific Heights and if you walk downhill…you know what happens next. You might find you and your lover doubly appreciate the comfy bed, the custom pillow selection, a soft breeze from the open window and the peace and quiet.

But before you head for your room be sure to stop by the sitting room (just off the lobby) for the evening reception. Each night the hotel serves California wines, local cheese, charcuterie, fruit and hot hors d’oeuvres.

Head back to the sitting room when you wake up if you’d like a cup of fair trade organic coffee, tea or lemon water prior to breakfast.

Breakfast. The people who insist breakfast is not to be skipped must have stayed at Hotel Drisco. A continental breakfast is served in a wonderfully windowed, sunny, high-ceilinged room with Queen Anne tables and chairs, white tablecloths and is the best continental breakfast I’ve ever had. The fruit is truly fresh, as are the juices; there’s a nice variety of yogurts, including goats-milk yogurts, and there are boiled eggs, fresh pastries, specialty coffees and more, most of which are locally sourced and beautifully presented.

Romance doesn’t always go hand-in-hand with environmentally friendly practices, but it does at Hotel Drisco, which has earned the prestigious “Green” Status from San Francisco Green Business. While the hotel’s management is enthusiastically green, you won’t know it unless you’re looking for it.

Most of the green initiatives take place behind the scenes. The office uses recycled office paper and soy-based inks, and employs two-sided printing; electrical equipment and appliances are Energy Star rated; and the hotel pays for renewable electricity. Food is locally sourced; the kitchen sends food scraps out for composting, half-used toiletries are donated to local shelters and the Clean the World program, and the five-year plan calls for the addition of on-site solar and/or wind power.

Here are a few other details to help you plan your trip:

The rooms are lovely and the suites are glorious – they’re spacious, and some, if not all, have big windows that look out over the city. Fresh fruit is included and replenished every day.

On-street parking is safe, free and plentiful. There’s a complimentary morning town-car service to Union Square and the Financial District; the hotel offers dry-cleaning and laundry services; the business center, complete with PC, Mac, and a printer is open 24/7; coffee is available 24/7; and there’s also an on-site “green” meeting room. Other chauffer services also are available for a fee, including rides to and from the airport.

Whether you choose Hotel Drisco because you want a delightful, romantic, pampered experience, or because supporting such a sustainably minded business is the right thing to do, you won’t be disappointed. This is a hotel you just might feel passionate about!

-Deb Percival

Photo Credit: Hotel Drisco

Voluntourism and socially conscious travel has exploded in the past few years. It’s easy to find ways to help with disaster relief or orphanages, but if you’re an environmentalist looking to get your hands dirty, below are five organizations that offer volunteer programs specifically tailored for working with environmental issues.

2) Projects Abroad – *For high schoolers
Programs are offered in almost every region of the world and feature a wide variety of activities including agriculture and eco-development. Volunteers can go diving in Thailand, work in the Amazon rainforest, or live on a reserve in the South African Bushveld. Projects Abroad also offers special two-week programs for high schoolers ages 16-19 (most abroad programs require volunteers to be 18 or older).

3) GVI USA – *For internships and research
GVI USA’s programs are designed specifically to work against climate change and are offered in exotic locations such as Seychelles, Belize, and Fiji. Most projects are focused on marine and wildlife conservation, but volunteering is not the only way to help. Through GVI USA, participants can complete internships and even conduct their own field research!

4) International Volunteer HQ – *For those on a budget
IVHQ may not offer as many locations as more expensive organizations, but if you’re interested in Peru, Costa Rica, Brazil, or Mexico, you’re in luck! Competitive prices and large volunteer groups make this a popular choice among volunteers of all ages – just be sure to check out what your program fee does and does not include.

5) Greenheart Travel – *For greater immersion
Conservation projects in Australia, animal population research in Brazil, and work on a private ecological reserve in Costa Rica are some of the volunteer opportunities available through Greenheart. But what makes this organization really unique is that it is part of a larger mission to involve volunteers long past their volunteer time abroad. High school students can log their abroad volunteer hours through the Greenheart Travel Club to receive awards, while other participants can apply for a Greenheart Travel Grant to fund a community project. Greenheart also runs Casita Verde – an environmental education center in Ibiza, Spain – and operates an eco-fair trade store, a music platform, and a lecture series.

-Kelisha Menon

Photo Credit: Flickr/A Strycula

Have you ever dreamed of going on an African safari? Just imagine exploring the terrain and wonderful creatures like elephants, zebras and giraffes. Get chills just thinking about it? Well, Boundless Journeys can satisfy your safari craving!

The Boundless Journeys travel guides offer diverse wilderness adventures, all while respecting the environment. Sensitive to the effects of travel, they strive to contribute positively to the world community through preservation of traditions, cultures and natural habitats.

By traveling in small groups, partnering with local people and supporting indigenous co-ops, Boundless Journeys maintains a civil relationship with the planet. Another great factor is tour guides are skilled naturalists with at least eight years of knowledge and experience, so you’ll get the best excursion possible.

Choose from visiting Botswana, Tanzania, Namibi and/or Zambia for a memorable journey. Some include riding on the traditional safari truck, where others you can explore on foot, canoe or boat.

If you’re worried about lodging, don’t, because Boundless Journeys offers a variety of choices from luxurious rooms to mobile camps. You can form your ideal safari to your liking.

For more information, visit their website and maybe you can make your safari dream come true!

Photo Credit: Boundless Journeys

Recently, blogger Jane Bills, traveled to New Orleans where she was lucky to experience the culture, the food, the environment, the green housing and have her own personal “green tour” of the city that endures several environmental challenges. Check out this piece by Bills and see how she captures “The Big Easy” in her own words.

The sunset over the Mississippi River as we landed. Hate to ruin the moment, but we soon learned that the agricultural runoff draining from 31 states to the north has created ecological dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico.

But First, The Food

Before we get into the environmental challenges this city endures, let’s enjoy the amazing tradition of food it has cultivated. There was one restaurant I just had to fit in to my visit: Cochon. All I knew is that 1) everyone who goes to New Orleans talks about it, and 2) it has pig parts. The waitress made two recommendations and they were the best things we ate (believe me, we ordered much more than this after an all-day flight and an abandoned airport salad).

Cochon’s wood-fired oysters with butter and hot sauce. We were going to order these again for dessert but the kitchen closed on us with no warning. Buzzkill alert!

Cochon’s smoked pork ribs in a tangy sauce with a kick of vinegar and “watermelon pickle”; and yes, the meat fell right off the bone. The finger-licking flavors reminded me of my long-coveted Cajun wings at NYC’s Great Jones Café. If I lived here, I would probably. live. here.

I dare you to pronounce the name on the street sign, especially after the “Swinekiller” cocktails we had.

Speaking of cocktails, I dragged a few of the conference ladies to Cure in Uptown on the advice of a friend who said it was one of the best places for drinks in the South. Here, the signature Sazerac, with Thomas H. Handy cask strength rye whiskey, Vieux Pontarlier absinthe (wait, what?), Demerara sugar, and lemon peel. Yep, I’m pretty sure this was the reason I was unusually chatty at dinner that night.

On the sweet side, a mandatory tourist stop is Café du Monde for coffee and beignets (fried dough covered in powdered sugar) and any of the fancy restaurants has a version of Bananas Foster (this one is at Arnaud’s—ooh, lookie here, I found the recipe!). I’m not a dessert person, but I could have easily gone for seconds (I blame the absinthe).

New Orleans and the Oil Refineries

We were honored to preface dinner at Arnaud’s with a visit from Mayor Mitch Landrieu, who had a handful of Southern-charm stories to keep the ladies laughing, but he also didn’t escape without a proper grilling over the stranglehold the oil companies have on this city. That’s when I knew I liked this group. There is deference and respect paid to busy people who have taken valuable time to speak with them, but they also seize the opportunity to speak directly about the contradictions they see, and they have a low tolerance for political spin.

The next day, we took a bus to the Barataria Preserve in Jean Lafitte National Historic Park, south of New Orleans, and outside of the levee perimeter. This gave a sense of the rapidly receding marshland, as did a boat tour on the bayou that afternoon, where we saw signs that warned of “no dredging” due to the presence of underwater oil pipelines. According to Mayor Landrieu and the Louisiana Oil & Gas Association, the state is the leading domestic producer of crude oil and the second highest producer of natural gas, accounting for 30 percent of the domestic oil supply. Tie that output to jobs and it’s hard to break the bond between oil companies and Louisiana politicians.

Is Gulf Seafood Really Safe?

So what does oil have to do with food? A lot, actually. Many synthetic preservatives, food dyes, flavorings, and pesticides are petroleum-derived. And the problems created by the oil industry in New Orleans are not just limited to one unfortunate disaster like the British Petroleum (BP) spill last year. As Anne Rolfes of the Lousiana Bucket Brigade told us, “The oil industry has an accident problem. I plan to repeat this sentence again and again until it becomes public knowledge.” She went on to say that there are nine oil industry accidents per week in Louisiana and thousands per year. When a conference member asked the panel if they eat the local seafood, Anne and her colleagues sheepishly admitted that they do not, and that, just the week before, a shipment of shrimp had arrived contaminated with oil—a result not necessarily from the BP spill but perhaps from the numerous other accidents that have followed it.

This is probably not something that Chef John Besh (left) and his guest at our dinner, shrimp fisherman Lance Nacio, want me to report, and surely they have their own data to refute it. (I’m guessing it has to do with whether you have a trusted supplier or not.) However, just one day before this trip, the New York Times reported that this year’s white shrimp harvest is all but nonexistent, with some reports saying it’s declined as much as 80 percent. It’s not yet certain that oil contamination is the culprit, but many have their suspicions.

At Besh’s flagship restaurant August, Nacio sat at our table and intrigued everyone with his friendly demeanor and honest assessment of both the seafood and oil industries. When Nacio couldn’t fish because of the oil spill, he worked for BP collecting and burning off the surface oil. He passed around photos of shrimp boats dwarfed by massive plumes of fire and smoke on the water. Nacio is now working diligently to get his sustainable shrimp business, Anna Marie Seafood, back on track, and that includes speaking out at events like this. Chef Besh told our group that he works with people like Nacio not to “eat local,” but because it’s the right thing to do, “to teach ourselves to be sustainable and not wait for federal help.”

Maybe it’s the discipline he honed as a U.S. marine, but Besh’s belief in self-reliance was in evidence again when, in the days after Hurricane Katrina, he cooked rice and beans in a front yard to feed people, and then partnered with emergency reconstruction specialists to create ready-to-eat meals for distribution in the U.S. and abroad. The immovable commitment that people like he and Mayor Landrieu have to this city—that they never even considered living anywhere but New Orleans—is certainly inspiring. In that spirit, Besh sponsors the Chef’s Move! scholarship, which awards a year’s tuition at NYC’s French Culinary Institute to a minority recipient from the New Orleans area. The catch? They have to come back and cook in New Orleans afterward.

The Rebuilding of the Ninth Ward After Hurricane Katrina

Of course, one cannot come to New Orleans and not see the daily reminders of Hurricane Katrina, whether it’s the looming Superdome that provided shelter to so many residents, or some houses in the Ninth Ward that are still—six years after the disaster—boarded up and spray painted with rescue codes for emergency responders.

In 2005, for reasons that are still debated, a levee gave way directly adjacent to the Lower Ninth Ward and more than 4,000 homes were flooded and destroyed. In all, more than 1,800 people lost their lives.

Brad Pitt, who has an affinity both for New Orleans and for architecture, wanted to help. He started the Make It Right foundation to build sustainable and affordable housing in the Ninth Ward that he hopes will become a prototype for other communities. Pitt asked thirteen architects to design various housing models (free of charge) that returning residents could choose from. They had to be environmentally friendly, energy-efficient, and storm-resistant, because no one disputes that the area will flood again. With heavy subsidies from Pitt’s foundation, each house costs $150,000 to build. At this time, about 70 of the planned 200 homes have been built or approved.

Design elements include solar panels, energy-saving appliances, non-toxic materials, and details like the ability to convert rainwater into irrigation for the garden.

The sidewalk is made with a pervious type of concrete meant to absorb water and each house stands at least five feet off the ground.

The “Floating House” is designed to rise and fall with a water surge of up to 14 feet.

With the closest grocery store more than seven miles away (it takes three times longer to get to a store than from any other New Orleans neighborhood), Make It Right also installed community gardens, open to all residents. (Periodically, goats are released to trim the grass.) It was recently reported that plans are in motion to build a grocery store here by 2013.

Looking from the Ninth Ward toward downtown New Orleans

One thing is for sure: a lot of people are working very hard to restore and rebuild this historical place, and it was inspiring to meet with them and understand their passion. Leaving here, you can’t help but want them all to succeed.

Restaurant recommendations:
August
Bayona
Cochon
Commander’s Palace
Coquette
Domilise Sandwich Shop (po’ boys)
Drago’s
Emeril’s
Herbsaint
Mother’s
Restaurant Stella
Sylvain
Willie Mae’s (fried chicken)

-Jane Bills, Let There Be Bite

Jane Bills is the owner of Let There Be Bite, a comprehensive food website that hand-picks the best ingredients in stores and online; shows you how to prepare them; and has zero tolerance for preservatives, pesticides, or GMO. Because life is too short for bad food!

All photos credited to Jane Bills.

Photo Credit: Flickr/Casqui (Luis Tamayo)

Boston isn’t just known for its history and colleges, but it is also known for its endeavor to instill the use of bikes throughout the entire city. Since the launch of the New Balance Hubway bike share program, more bikes can be seen riding throughout the Hub.

So, what exactly is this unique bike system? First launched on July 28, 2011 with 61 stations and 600 bicycles, the system provides people with accessible and green transportation. You can rent a bike near your home, the office or a friends place and bike to your next destination.

Three pricing options are provided; Annual, 3-Day or the 24-Hour membership for three seasons a year, as the program is not offered during the winter. In addition, bike rides less than 30 minutes are always free! 

According to the City of Boston’s Environmental & Energy Services E-Newsletter, the bike share program now has over 3,000 members and over 80,000 trips have been taken. The Boston Public Health Commission is also partnering with New Balance Hubway and offering a $5 subsidized annual membership for qualifying Boston residents. It doesn’t stop there; you also get a free helmet! 

Not only is this a great way to promote bicycling and a way to keep the environment clean and green, but it is a fun way to get from here to there, if you’re a Boston resident or tourist! For more information check out the website or stay up to date through Twitter or Facebook.

Photo Credit: Maya Tulum

Are you looking to get away from the cold weather or just need time off from work? Then, maybe you should check into an empowering (and eco focused) fitness retreat to soothe your mind, body and soul. Not only can you travel to Mexico, but you can find a way to “embrace your power!” 

Presented by Empowerment Fitness, you can enjoy a weeklong wellness retreat at the Maya Tulum Resort and Spa, voted one of the top destination resort spas in the world. You have the opportunity to not only relax, but create strength, release stress and build personal empowerment.

Rain Tees founder, author and yoga instructor Beth Doane will co-host the retreat with Molly Kujawski, owner of Empowerment Fitness and certified personal trainer specializing in strength training. 

The resort and spa is located an hour and a half south of Cancun, Mexico on the white sandy beaches of the Caribbean and includes:

• Three meals a day of fresh, organic, local vegetarian cuisine with some fresh fish and non-alcoholic drinks. Alcohol is available for purchase and those with dietary requirements are accommodated.
• All of your health, wellness and fitness classes, and group activities.
• Your accommodations for 7 nights and 8 days in a beautiful bungalow.
• All resort tips and gratuities.
• A Retreat T-Shirt. 

Wondering what classes are offered? Here is a sampling: Power Yoga; PiYo(Pilates and Yoga); Detox, Health and Nutrition Lectures; Beach Bootcamp; Meditation; Kndalini Yoga; Kickboxing; and Gentle Flow Yoga. 

You can also explore Tulum, which is surrounded by an ancient Mayan jungle and home to some of the most well preserved Mayan ruins ever discovered. Walk around and discover underwater caves, salsa, shop, boat or simply relax by the beach all day. Doesn’t get much better than that! 

The weeklong retreat is from Nov. 10 through Nov. 17, 2012.  For more information click here to see how you can enjoy the sun, sand and relaxation all while getting healthy and staying in shape!

Photo Credit: Liberty Tire Recycling

Are you looking for a company that recycles tires of all shapes and sizes from more than 60,000 locations nationwide and that maintains a door-to-door reclamation service? Well, then you need to check out Liberty Tire Recycling. 

It’s one of the top tire recycling companies in North America, as it collects and recycles about a third of the nation’s scrap tires. This helps save more than 110 million tires and transforms them into raw materials for sustainable products such as crumb rubber and rubber mulch.

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., thanks to Liberty Tire, more than 250 million pounds of crumb rubber is produce annually and used for welcome mats, portable speed bumps and weightlifting plates. 

Another innovative product that results from recycling tires is rubber mulch. It has the same appearance as wood or stone mulch, but is nontoxic, non-staining and minimizes airborne dust and particles. Also, it is only applied once and won’t fade for up to 12 years, reduces bug infestation and won’t decompose or compress. Can’t get better than that! 

By reclaiming tires, Liberty Tire helps produce industrial feedstock, tire derived fuel and rubberized asphalt. Who would think one little item could produce so much? 

For more information visit http://www.libertytire.com/ and be sure to educate yourself on the uses of recycled tires!