Be a More Eco-Conscious Business Traveler Consider these tips the next time you travel
旅行也可以很低碳 下次出差旅行時，不妨試試這些技巧
As individuals take more interest in their carbon footprint, governments and corporations have begun implementing drastic changes to help protect the environment. When you're always on the go for work, even small, eco-friendly decisions can make a huge difference.
Let's take a look at the best and easiest ways to be more eco-conscious.
1. Opt for public transit
If you're traveling locally to your next business meeting, consider using public transit. In most urban and suburban areas, you can find public transportation to get you to your destination. Using trains and buses helps minimize carbon emissions.
The majority of business flights are domestic, so trading in your flight for a train or bus ticket is one of the best eco-conscious decisions you can make. That said, you will need to plan well in advance.
2. Fly direct to your destination
If you're traveling overseas or need to get across the country for an important business meeting the next day, air travel is best. However, there are still ways to minimize your impact on the environment.
When your flight makes multiple stops, this requires additional fuel and greatly increases the plane's emissions. However, if you fly direct, the emissions are reduced to the absolute minimum.
Info Cloud
footprint 腳印; 代表一樣東西在地上佔的面積; 影響力
Hello, everyone. And welcome to Info Cloud. Today I want to ask you a serious question. Have you ever thought about your footprints?
Now Anne Marie isn't talking about the tracks you make in the dirt when you walk, but she is talking about your mark on the planet.
A footprint is, as Rex says, a print on the ground. But we use footprint to mean the space that something takes or the impact that it has.
For buildings, we usually say they have a big or small footprint, depending on the size of what is touching the ground.
But for a person, their footprint isn't just simply how much physical space they take up. It also refers to the impact that they have on the world.
People who say they are trying to decrease their footprint mean that they are trying to reduce the resources they use, like water or electricity.
You might have heard of the term "carbon footprint." It has the same meaning. That means the impact of something on the planet.
But a carbon footprint has a special meaning. It refers to the amount of carbon containing gases produced by something, like airplanes using fuel.
Another name for those gases are greenhouse gases. So a company like an airline that tries to reduce its carbon footprint is trying to reduce its impact on the environment.
人的腳印和足跡可以代表很多意義，今天要跟大家分享 footprint 腳印的不同用法。
除了腳印之外，footprint 可以代表一樣東西在地上佔的面積。例如，That building has left a large footprint in this area. 那棟建築物在這個地區的面積很大。
footprint 還有另外一個更深層的意義，那就是影響力。The company has grown its footprint all over the world. 這家公司的影響力遍及全球，可能他們在全世界都有分公司，或者是他們的產品在各地相當受歡迎。
Language Lab
opt v. 選擇
/ˈɑːpt/
to choose one thing instead of another — often + for
- Susan opted for economy class because she didn’t want to pay too much for her airplane ticket. Susan 選擇經濟艙，因為她不想付太多機票錢。
- Natalie opted to stay a little longer in Miami.
Natalie 選擇在邁阿密多留久一點。
opt out ph v. 選擇退出 (活動、團體組織)
an opportunity to choose not to do or take part in something
- If you are not happy with how things are done with this group, you can always opt out.
如果你對這個團隊的做事方式感到不滿意，你可以隨時選擇退出。
opt in ph v = phrasal verb 選擇加入 (活動團體、計畫)
to choose to do or be involved in something
- There is a special program that is not open to the public, but our club members are given the choice to opt in.
有一個特別的方案不對外開放，但我們的會員可以選擇加入。
minimize v. 減少到最少量/最低的限度
to make (something bad or not wanted) as small as possible
- It is everyone’s job to minimize fire risk during the hot dry season.
在炎熱乾燥的季節裡，大家都要盡力減少火災的可能性。
- The restaurant isn’t doing well, so they’re trying to minimize costs.
餐廳生意不太好，所以他們盡可能地降低成本。
minimize v. 淡化、輕描淡寫
to treat or describe (something) as smaller or less important than it is
- The people are angry because there is no food, but the governor continues to minimize the problem.
因為糧食不足導致人民氣憤，但是州長還是持續淡化問題。
minimize v. 讓電腦螢幕上的東西變小/縮小
computers : to make (a program's window) change to a very small form that takes almost no room on a computer's screen
- Julie wants to minimize the page on her screen, but she doesn’t know how to do it.
Julie 想把螢幕上那頁縮小，但是她不知道該怎麼做。
domestic adj. 國內的; 本國的
of, relating to, or made in your own country
- Domestic travelers do not need to carry a passport.
在國內旅遊的旅客不需要帶護照。
- According to the economist, the domestic market isn’t doing very well, but hopefully things will be better by the end of the year.
經濟學家指出，國內市場目前狀況不怎麼樣，但是希望年底會好一點。
domestic adj. 家裡的、家庭的
always used before a noun : relating to or involving someone's home or family
- Peggy had to hire a domestic helper because she is not able to do all the house chores herself.
Peggy 必須要雇用一個幫傭，因為她無法一個人把家事做完。
eco-conscious adj. 有生態意識的、有環境保護意識的 [eco’ 生態、環境]
marked by or showing concern for the environment
conscious adj. 意識的
/ˈkɑːnʃəs/
awake and able to understand what is happening around you
- Donna was conscious of the fact that no one in the office was happy.
Donna 有意識到辦公室沒有一個人是開心的。
- When Martha goes shopping, she tries to look for eco-conscious options.
Martha 購買東西時，會尋求有環保意識的商品。
health-conscious adj. 注重健康的
concerned about how healthy one's diet and lifestyle are.
- The health-conscious customer ordered a salad.
注重健康的顧客點了一份沙拉。
self-conscious adj. 注重自己的行為或長相
feeling undue awareness of oneself, one's appearance, or one's actions.
- Jenny is feeling self-conscious because she thinks her hairstyle is ugly.
Jenny 感到非常不自在，因為她認為她的髮型很醜。
