You can always buy solar panels for your home, generate electricity using them, and become carbon neutral. But, when you travel, there is a good chance that you are still using electricity generated by polluting conventional energy sources. Is there something you can do about it? Yes.
Airbnb is a website that allows any private property owner to list their spare rooms, spare homes, guest houses, villas, etc. Travelers can search for homes in their destination and book any, if they find them interesting.
The best thing about this site is, there are some interesting and unique properties listed there. I searched for solar homes, and found the following results quite interesting. So now, even while traveling, you can remain carbon neutral by searching for solar homes in this site, specific to your destination!
This solar home is in walking distance from Kansas medical center. It is fitted with solar panels almost throughout the roof, and solar energy is the predominant way used by this home to generate electricity. They run air conditioning, TV, Internet, Heating, etc. using solar energy.
Located among the hills in a rural location 50 KM away from Koln/Bonn in Germany, this house is also powered by solar panels. They say that their house produces more energy than they consume, and hence it is a carbon positive home! It's a high-tec plus energy home.
This house, located among the hills and a river in Spain is off-grid. That means, there is no electricity connection to the mains and hence it is entirely powered by solar energy. They also have a dry compostable toilet next to the house, and organic farm around it. The communal car parking is 500 meters below the hill.
This independent house located in Charlottesville, USA is powered by solar panels, has good insulation, uses ambient natural light to light up the home in the morning, and uses energy efficient LED lamps. What a better way to save and optimize energy use, than by reducing the energy required for lighting?
Kodaikkanal (or Kodai) is a cool hill station located in the state of Tamil Nadu, South India. In the midst of hills, amidst a water fall and stream, within an organic farm, is located this large 80 sq. meter home that is powered entirely using solar and hydro power sources. You can also get organic milk in this place, and the market in Kodai (12 KM away, accessible by jeep) sells organic produce.
So are you inspired to live in a solar home during your travels? Just visit Airbnb website and search for a solar home near your preferred location. Also, if you register using the above link, you'll get a credit of Rs. 1500/- which will be automatically deducted from your bill amount, when you book a property for more than Rs. 5000/- on their site. Go ahead, and stay in Solar-powered homes!