Go green and save money.

• Position: Holiday Travel

Holiday travelers can save money and reduce their contribution to global warming at the same time, thanks to a handy green travel guide from the Union of Concerned Scientists, Washington, D.C., in which researchers have calculated the amount of carbon dioxide--the chief heat-trapping gas that drives global warming--associated with travel in a variety of modes, including passenger cars, SUVs, planes, trains, and buses. Since trip emissions also could depend on the number of passengers traveling, UCS evaluated trip emissions for solo travelers, couples, and families of four.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Vacation emissions can be significant. A poorly planned family-of-four getaway can result in more carbon emissions than an entire year of the family's commute to and from work. Over time, global warming is making winters shorter and reducing the snow season for skiers, snowmobilers, and other outdoor enthusiasts, maintains UCS.

Here are some of the organization's green travel tips:

Off-peak travel. Americans tend to favor Friday, Saturday, or Sunday departures, but these peak travel times result in higher emissions, gasoline bills, and ticket prices. Travelers who plan to arrive and depart on Monday through Thursday can take advantage of lower airplane fares. This advice especially can be helpful for those who want to avoid crowds on the road or at airports during Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas. Moreover, tacking an extra day or two onto a vacation can help you travel on off-peak days. That may be easier than many people think: Americans collectively fail to take advantage of more than 500,000 days of paid vacation every year.

Pass on...