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More and more responsible globetrotters are paying attention to where they spend their tourism cash. They're putting their money where their mouths are (cliché I know) and choosing sustainable hotels, restaurants, and transportation. I wrote over at TreeHugger that according to Sustainable Travel, 58.5 million Americans say they would pay more to use a travel company that strives to protect and preserve the environment. And flying green is certainly becoming a growing trend. But how green is it really?
According to Seat Guru, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has set a goal of creating a zero-emissions plane within 50 years and the European Union is implementing an emissions cap and trading system for airlines that will go into effect by 2012. But how environmentally responsible is the industry currently?
No Certification System in Place
Green building has taken leaps and bounds thanks to LEED certification. The Green Restaurant Association certifies individual restaurants that meet environmental requirements. But what about airlines? Thus far, there is no all encompassing certification process set in place to judge individual airlines against one another. Until there is such a system, it is the individual's responsibility to do some checking. Read each airline's green policy. Thus far, Virgin Atlantic, Southwest, JetBlue, and Continental Airlines are among the most committed. You can read about some of their steps toward sustainability here.
But even if an airline claims to be green, the older planes aren't likely up to par. Choose the most fuel-efficient planes, including the Airbus A319, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, or the Bombardier CSeries. The MD-80's and MD-82's, on the other hand, last a very long time, so the ones that are still flying can be up to 30 years old and severely lacking when it comes to efficiency.
And What About Biofuels?
Continental Airlines, Japan Airlines, JetBlue, Lufthansa, and Virgin Atlantic have all tested biofuels in an aircraft, but a real, widely used alternative to jet fuel is a decade or more away, according to Michael Miller of the Orlando, Florida-based aviation consulting firm Green Skies. And even if biofuels were widely used, any emission savings are offset by a growth in the number of flights. Aircraft emissions are expected to double by 2030, according to Wired, as a result of a growth in the number of planes in the air.
The Bottom Line About Flying
The airline industry is a business just like any other business that has to make money. Airlines may advertise green but you need to take into account how much these steps really alter your emissions in the end. While you should always fly direct, buy carbon credits when you do fly, and pick the greenest airline that you can find, flying still has by far the most impact on your carbon footprint. Matt wrote that one cross country flight uses 15 percent of your emissions for the year. Reduce flying whenever you can. If you have to fly for business, make that family trip closer to home. Convince your boss to try online meetings and skip short flights that can be replaced by the train or bus.
More on Airlines:
Greener Flying : Not All Flights are Created Equal
Greener Skies for the Airlines?
Choose a Green Airline
Have to Fly For Business? 5 Tips to Green Your Trip
