A few weeks ago, when I revised this project website, I found the original estimate of miles I’d drive during this trip: around 4,000. The number, which I remember carefully calculating (although I cannot seem to remember how exactly), seems laughable now.
In just 15 weeks on the road, I’ve put around 14,000 miles on the CRV — more than 3 times the amount I envisioned for the entire project. At this rate, by the end of my 54 weeks on the road, I will have driven approximately 50,000 miles throughout the country.
It’s no small number, and far above the average American annual mileage, which runs around 13,500. And when combined with other realities of being on the road (regular consumption of single use plastics, the plethora of disposable shopping bags, and more), it’s led me to strongly consider my own carbon footprint, and the environmental impact of this endeavor.
Calculations online suggest that my carbon footprint on this trip could average as high as 37.56 metric tons for the year — more than double the average footprint for people in the United States, and more than 7 times the average worldwide footprint. The gravity of this is not lost on me; regardless of climate change debates, I think there is enormous value in being kind to our planet.
After all, it’s the only one we have, so why not do small things that may help it out?
Travel is not necessarily the easiest situation for “going green.” There are several factors in my carbon footprint, including the aforementioned mileage, that are necessary for this endeavor to move forward. But instead of getting discouraged, I’m trying to identify small areas where I can make my own impact.
Like:
- Using a reusable tumbler and travel mug for my numerous coffee shop visits
- Cutting down on single-use plastic by buying things in bulk, rather than single serve options at a gas station
- Swapping out short drives with renting bikes and taking walks (which is also better for mental health, a win-win!)
- Skipping the straw at restaurants and bars, and saying no thanks to plastic bags
- Shopping — and eating — local whenever feasible on the road
But, I’m sure there are plenty of things I’m not thinking of to help offset my own environmental impact — so I wanted to open this up to all of you. Do you have any other ideas on what changes I can make?
