From hiking and camping to beach days and vacations, summer is one of the best seasons for heading outdoors. But with so much movement, it's also one of the least eco-friendly times of the year. To give Mother Earth a break and to awake the environmentalist within, we wanted to share some useful tips on how to be eco-friendly this summer and still have fun.

Rent Bikes

Over the past few years, bike-share programs have been popping up all over the country. In 2012, New York City launched Citibike – the largest bike-sharing program in the U.S. at the time. With overwhelming success, other cities like Minneapolis, Miami Beach, and Denver went on to launch similar programs, providing stations that addressed transit needs.

Even if you already own a bike, you might not always have your bike on you which is where automated stations for bicycle rentals come in handy. It's not only an eco-friendly way to commute to work, the train or bus station – it's also an inexpensive way to easily visit city sights while on vacation. At the same time, you won't be emitting any gas or toxic emissions, so it's a win-win for you and the environment.

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Go On An Eco-Friendly Vacation 

What is summer without a vacation (or two)? For those of you who suffer from severe cases of wanderlust, traveling during the sunniest months is definitely necessary, however, it's not always the most eco-friendly thing to do. To ease your guilt of harming the environment, make conscious decisions while on your travels, to stay at the greenest hotels, book your flights with the greenest airlines, and dine at farm-to-table or local organic restaurants. Our mini guide to eco-friendly travel will be sure to steer you in the greenest direction.

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Cool Down With Reusable Water Bottles 

Annually, Americans consume over 8.6 billion gallons of bottled water and when trying to stay cool during summer, plastic water bottles are all too convenient for us to grab. But when you consider that they can take anywhere between 400 and 1,000 years to decompose, it goes without saying that drinking out of a reusable water bottle is a much better choice for our planet.

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Do you have any eco-friendly tips to share? What are some of your favorite ways to be eco-friendly during summer?