Flying
Unfortunately, flying is among the worst contributors to increased CO2 emissions. Fortunately some airlines are making efforts to offset their impacts.
Travel Green:
Consider selecting an airline that offers a carbon offset program such as Air France,  British Airways or Delta Air LInes.
The Climate Care program offered by  British Airways allows you to enter your flight information, calculates your carbon footprint and then offers you the option of purchasing a carbon offset credit. As an example, when we fly roundtrip from Seattle to Paris, our contribution to the flight generates approximately 1.82 tons of CO2. The cost  for us to purchase a carbon offset credit for the roundtrip is roughly $28 based on the actual mileage flown.
Delta offers Delta's Force for Global Good and has partnered with The Conservation Fund to plant trees to offset their carbon emissions. The cost for an international flight is approximately $11 roundtrip. Look for "Plant Trees to Offset Emissions" on step two of the reservation process online.
While there are questions about the effectiveness of some carbon offset programs, any effort seems better than none.

Understanably, the price of a ticket often dictates the choice of airlines. After contacting all the major US carriers, we were disappointed to learn that while some, such as Delta and Continental, have an environmental policies, few offer a carbon offset program.
Travel Green:
Purchase your own carbon offset.
Americanforests.org offers a Plant Trees option with seventeen tree planting programs from which to choose. Their Climate Change Calculator is easy to use and can be used to calculate your complete carbon footprint or just your travel footprint.
Carboncounter.org also has a calculator and purchase option and is the carbon offset purchase arm of the Climate Trust, an Oregon based non-profit. According to the folks at the Climate Trust, because of the way their offset program is established with the IRS, you also get a tax deductable letter for your purchase.
Travel Green:
Travel light with just one carry-on sized suitcase.
Weight really does matter, the more luggage, the more weight and conseqently, more fuel. An airline in our area found that they were continually landing with an excess of fresh water on board their planes. They calculated that fleet wide if they reduced the amount of water carried on each plane that they could save a huge amount of fuel on a yearly basis. The small things matter.


Getting from Charles De Gaulle into Paris or Orly
Rental cars, taxis, vans, Air France buses and the RER  train are all options. 
Travel Green:
Generally, the more passengers a vheicle can carry,  the better.
Our favorite is the RER which leaves Terminal 2 and stops at a number of locations in Paris and Orly. Traffic is never a concern with the RER.

Getting from Charles de Gaulle to the Rest of France
By Rental Car:
Travel Green:
Rent a diesel fueled car with a manual transmission.
The cost of petrol in France is legendary and as a result, many cars are very fuel efficent.

By Plane from Orly:
Travel Green:
Choose the RER train from Terminal 2 or the Air France bus available just outside the terminal.
Since Orly is completely across Paris to the south, either mode of transportation can be hours quicker and far more efficient than a car or taxi.

By Train:
Travel Green:
Take the train.
The French train system is excellent and if the system cannot get you exactly where you wish to be, it certainly will get you close. If you need a car, rent the car at the end of your train trip.

Getting around Paris
Paris has an excellent bus and Metro system.
Travel Green:
Use the buses, the Metro or best of all walk.

Rental Cars
Some of our owners rent cars, but not that often at Charles de Gaulle.
Travel Green:
Take the train from the airport and rent a car near your destination.
Many of our owners travel by train to towns near our houses such as Le Mans, Alencon, Sees, Toulouse, Beziers and Narbonne
and then pick up their rental car usually near the train station. Picking up and dropping off the car in a small town can often be much easier than driving around Paris to the airport.
Travel Green;
Choose a diesel fueled car with a manual transmission.
Automatic transmissions are rare and require special ordering and are less fuel efficent.
Travel Green:
Rent as small a car as will meet your needs.
Usually, the smaller the car the better the fuel mileage.
Travel Green:
Use the air conditioning only when really necessary.
The fuel mileage will be better with the air conditioning off.
Travel Green:
Consider purchasing a carbon offset credit for your rental mileage.
As with flying, you could purchase a carbon offset from Americanforests.org or Carboncounter.org.

Shopping
Few sensual experiences surpass the morning visit to the local bakery or market.
Travel Green:
Support the local shops and markets.
At the very heart of French culture is the reverence that the French display for locally produced food. Food produced locally is always fresher and is never transported by plane from a far away location.
Travel Green:
Walk or bike to shop.
Nothing works up an appreciation for food like a little exercise.
Travel Green:
Take your own cloth bag.
Avoid plastic and paper bags when possible, besides a cloth bag can not only be a fashion statement but is much easier to carry.

Recycling
France has been recycling paper, plastics, cans and bottles for decades. Bins are often located at the outskirts of even the smallest of villages.
Travel Green:
Act French, recycle everything you can.

We are continually looking for ideas for traveling green, please help us with your suggestions.

Copyright Dream Homes Abroad, LLC 2007