Considering a greener commute that does less damage to the environment and is often better for your health and pocket? Here are some tips.
Use Public Transport
By now, you’ve probably heard countless times that using public transportation is good for the environment. However, its benefits go way beyond reducing your carbon footprint. It also offers a great opportunity for social interaction and saves you time by helping you avoid traffic. In addition, it can save you money (depending on where you reside), and it comes with several health benefits. If you aren’t comfortable with the whole using public transportation thing, start with small achievable goals. For example, use rail or bus one day per week, or drive only a section of the commute. To make things much easier, you can retain a set of timetables or bookmark the local transit authority’s website. Once you have everything figured out, you can start pushing for improved services and greener operations.
Work from Home
Arguably, the most eco-friendly commuting option is the one that doesn’t require you to travel at all. Working remotely from home helps to save you a lot of time that you would have otherwise spent going to and from work, and also save you money in terms of fuel or daily fare. And as an added bonus, you get to wear what you are most comfortable with or what you’ve always desired to wear to work.
Switch to a Four-Day Work Week
It’s safe to say that almost everyone at the office gets excited whenever a three-day weekend comes along. These are few and far in between. But what if three-day weekends were the norm? You can make this a reality. Consider talking to your employer about the feasibility of working 4 ten-hour days rather than the standard 5 eight-hour days. For those commuting to college, arrange for a four-day schedule. By removing one day off your schedule, you can cut down the time and energy spent in your weekly commute by 20%. But if these changes aren’t currently possible, consider shifting your commute hours to when there is the least traffic, to align with the train or bus timetables, or carpool with a friend. Most employees are more concerned about what work is being done than about when it is done.
Think About Carpooling
Find out whether there are colleagues who live in your near area or use the same route as you.
Take Proper Care of Your Car
If you have to use your car to work, ensure that you are taking good care of it. Regular car maintenance not only helps to prolong its lifespan, but it also helps to maintain your engine’s fuel efficiency, thus saving you money on fuel costs. Car maintenance involves things like regularly changing the oil, ensuring that the tires are always properly inflated, and taking unnecessary loads out of the car, for example, those golf clubs that you use only once or twice a month. If you car is past maintenance and you want to commute more you could always scrap it – see more here.
Walk or Cycle to Work
It’s a well-established fact that walking to work is the least carbon-intensive way to commute. Provided that you are in good health, reside in a safe area, and your workplace is less than a mile away, walking to and from work each day is completely achievable.
For some, cycling to work can be a bit scary and nerve-racking, especially if you’ve never done it before. However, you can overcome your fears by pairing up with an experienced cyclist as your mentor or sharing a bike until you are comfortable biking alone. At the same time, stop yourself from using the elevator and start using the stairs. Not only will you be helping the environment but doing so will also help you to keep you physically fit according to a spokesperson for electric bike shop GES..
Avoid Travelling at High Speeds
Sticking to speeds below 55 miles per hour significantly boosts your fuel efficiency. Did you know that you reduce your fuel efficiency by 10% for every 5 miles per hour you go above 55? While the rush hour traffic in most cities will have you moving at below walking speed, if you regularly see empty roads, consider slowing down.
Establish a Budget
Coming up with a travel budget will help you keep track of how much you are spending on fuel. You can then start making necessary changes along the way to lower your fuel costs. For example, if you have errands, consider doing them while on your way to and from work rather than going on separate trips. If you rarely use your car, you can simply get rid of it and join a car club for those crucial errands and big trips that you can’t make through other means. If you are planning on moving to a new place, ease of travel should be a key consideration when picking your new place. Some bit of proper planning will help minimize your reliance on your car and make your life much easier.
Turn Off Your Idle Engine
If you expect to wait for longer than 30 seconds, it is more fuel-efficient to just turn off your ignition than to leave it idling. This not only helps to save gas, but it also helps to minimize your emissions. This is particularly applicable when picking up your kids from school.
Read more:
9 Top Green Commuting Tips