Travel Light

Whether you are jet-setting to Tahiti or driving to your grandma's house in the next county, packing light will cut down on fuel use, as well as wear and tear on luggage.

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Photo: Rick Lord / istock

By Brian Clark Howard

Whether you are jet-setting to Tahiti or driving to your grandma's house in the next county, packing light will cut down on fuel use, as well as wear and tear on luggage and other items.

When flying, each additional 10 pounds per traveler requires an added 350 million gallons of jet fuel per year. More baggage also means security has to work harder to go through everything, requiring more energy for scanning and moving things around. The average wait time for checked luggage is 20 to 30 minutes, so you'll move through airports much faster if you can take what you need in a carry-on.

When driving, each additional 100 pounds of cargo will increase fuel consumption by about 2%. The less you take with you, the better your fuel economy will be.

By traveling light, you will need fewer luggage tags and airline stickers, further saving resources. Traveling is tough on luggage, and wears it out quite rapidly, so the less you take, the fewer suitcases or duffels you'll have to replace. Plus, you will be less likely to have luggage lost, or contents crushed or stolen. All those extra clothes, shoes, books and other items will last longer if you leave them at home, safe.

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