Washington Travel Guide

Each time you take a flight or drive a car, CO2 is released into the atmosphere. You can help neutralize this danger to our planet through "carbon offsetting" -- paying someone to reduce your CO2 emissions by the same amount you've added. Carbon offsets can be purchased in the U.S. from companies such as Carbonfund.org (www.carbonfund.org) and TerraPass (www.terrapass.org), and from Climate Care (www.climatecare.org) in the U.K.

Although one could argue that any vacation that includes an airplane flight can't be truly "green," you can go on holiday and still contribute positively to the environment. In addition to purchasing carbon offsets from the companies mentioned above, you can take other steps toward responsible travel. Choose forward-looking companies who embrace responsible development practices. An increasing number of sustainable tourism initiatives can help you plan a family trip and leave as small a "footprint" as possible on the places you visit.

Responsible Travel (www.responsibletravel.com), run by a spokesperson for responsible tourism in the travel industry, contains a great source of sustainable travel ideas and organized excursions. A review of available trips in spring 2007 revealed none in Washington, D.C., but perhaps the company will offer one in the future, so check the website if you're interested.

The most environmentally responsible thing you can do if you're vacationing in D.C. is to leave your car at home, or, if you drive here, to park the car in the hotel lot and climb back in only when you're ready to head home. You won't need a car in the city.

D.C.'s government buildings and famous landmarks tend to get all the attention, so you may be surprised to learn that 17% of the city is national parkland, which makes the capital one of the "greenest" cities in the country. More than 230,000 acres of parkland lie within city limits; the biggest chunk is the 2,000-acre Rock Creek Park, the National Park Service's oldest urban park, founded in 1890. The city's government is committed to the environmental cause, and its City Council passed an initiative in 2006 requiring developers to follow the U.S. Green Building Council's guidelines. The Washington Nationals Ballpark will be the country's first green-certified stadium when it opens in 2008.

Additionally, a number of D.C. hotels have implemented environmentally friendly policies and initiatives.

It's Easy Being Green

We can all help conserve fuel and energy when we travel. Here are a few simple ways you can help preserve your favorite destinations:

• Whenever possible, choose nonstop flights; they generally require less fuel than those that must stop and take off again.

• If renting a car is necessary on your vacation, ask the rental agent for the most fuel-efficient one available. Not only will you use less gas, but you'll save money at the tank.

• At hotels, request that your sheets and towels not be changed daily. You'll save water and energy by not washing them as often, and you'll prolong the life of the towels, too. (Many hotels already have programs like this in place.)

• Turn off the lights and air-conditioner (or heater) when you leave your hotel room.