One Way to Conserve Jet Fuel: Pack Less Stuff
by Eliza Barclay, Nomad on 09.25.08
The Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Travel in a recent issue of National Geographic Traveler is chock-full of good tips, but the one we founding most surprising was the amount of jet fuel that can be saved by packing fewer items in your suitcase.
According to Thomas Kostigen, author of The Green Book, every additional ten pounds per traveler requires an additional 350 million gallons of jet fuel per year. Kostigen says that's enough fuel to keep a 747 flying continuously for ten years. Click through for a few tips on how to pack light and reduce your suitcase's load...
In the United States, airlines will collectively spend $61.2 billion this year on jet fuel. High oil prices are clearly putting pressure on the industry to cut fuel costs, and some of that is being transferred to consumers by forcing them to pay to check baggage, in the case of US Airways and others. This means there's a new economic incentive to bring fewer bags, but travelers can also look to shave off smaller amounts of accoutrement.
While leaving ten pounds of stuff at home may not be possible, most of us are probably capable of leaving at least one pound of unnecessary clothes. NGT Magazine suggests bringing durable, neutral-colored clothing that can be easily mixed and matched to keep the suitcase light.
The same applies to road trips. Heavy items, particularly on the roof of a vehicle increases drag, which lowers fuel efficiency in most vehicles.
We've noted that the airline industry is also beginning to reduce their rising jet fuel bills by getting rid of inefficient planes, power-washing jet engines more often to prevent grime, carrying less water for the bathroom faucets and toilets and safety equipment, and replacing passenger seats with lighter models. :: Via National Geographic Traveler
More on Jet Fuel Conservation:
Next Off the Plane to Save Weight: Safety Equipment
Emirates Drops In-Flight Magazine To Save Fuel
Bombardier Launches Fuel Efficient Jet
The Helium Report on Flying Carbon Neutral
US Airways to Start Charging for Checked Baggage, Drinks
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- Dubai Flight Gets 6% Fuel Reduction, Saves 40,000 Pounds of CO2 and Calls it Green
- This Sneaky Pink Iguana Evaded Charles Darwin's Attention
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How about being less fat? Screw my luggage. I weigh less than half what a lot of the lard buckets slopping over into my seat weigh. It's all kilos....
But if you pack less crap that you need, then you have to drive all over town and use up a bunch of gas just to buy all the things you should have brought with you in your luggage in the first place...
Just bring it with you.
For some reason, this article made me start hating fat people.....
I always pack light, because out of boredom and novelty I inevitably go shopping while travelling and buy a t-shirt or something.
Also, when you're travelling, you don't really need to worry about people seeing you in the same outfit two days in a row. If they do, who cares?
All the clothes you take should be mix-and-matchable with eachother. Bring stuff that doesn't hold wrinkles. yada yada.
It's not so difficult to pack lightly. You can rewear clothes and wash skivvies in the sink.
My rule is to pack only what I can carry on. I've gone to Italy for 10 days, Hawaii for 2 weeks, and South Africa for 10 days, and for each trip, all I brought was 1 carry on suitcase and small "personal item" as the airlines call them (usually a purse or small backpack).
And no additional purchases were necessary.
Oh, and the National Geographic guide to sustainable travel is such a great resource. Thanks for the post!