Go Green by Driving Less

Filed in Green Living on April 13, 2009 with View Comments

Did you know that 91% of all Americans drive to work alone in their car? I unfortunately am one of them. If every one of us could cut out just one of those trips per week by carpooling, taking the bus, walking, or riding a bike, carbon emissions would be reduced by almost 150 tons. That is a significant amount.

What we all need to do is find a way to cut out one car trip a week and find an alternative way to do it. This could include a trip to the store, a doctor’s appointment, hair cut, etc. and get there by another means of transport. It’s really not hard to do when you consider that almost 50% of the car trips we make are less than 5 miles. You can easily do that on a bike even if you’re not in the best of shape. Just think, riding your bike will help you lose some weight and cut carbon emissions.

If only 1 driver in a household switched to public transportation full-time, that one person’s carbon footprint would be reduced by 30%. My sister walks to work everyday saving herself money on gas and burning off calories from lunch. Walking to work is free and you get a little exercise too.

If you’re interested in connected with a carpool or maybe even starting one yourself, you can check out one of these sites: www.erideshare.com or www.carpoolworld.com.

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  • I just ran into this great post and I'd like to add my thoughts.

    My wife and I have two kids under 3 years old and about 2 months ago we decided to sell our car and purchase a couple of bikes and a chariot for the kids. All I can say is that we couldn't be happier with our decision.

    Besides saving about $500 a month, we are having so much fun biking everywhere we go. All I can really say is that if you think you can't live without your car think again, because you really can, and you'll feel much more free because of it.

    Cheers.
  • If you can't drive less, turn off your car when waiting for someone (idol less)
  • I think this is a great idea, but the problem is some people still live in rural areas and have to drive more than others.
  • 30% is a magic number for us to prevent the disastrous effects of Global Warming.
    If one person could not give up their car all together maybe a car-share program is possible...?
    Can I add some statistics to your post?
    Scott Ankeny
    www.goinggreentoday.com
  • There is a Green Challenges contest on the simplegreenaction.ca website that offers you the chance to increase your environmentality by completing quick and easy green challenges. Each green mission is a chance for you to make the Earth more beautiful, and involve others in the cause!

    You will be invited to select green challenges, and every challenge you complete will earn you additional chances to enter in a draw for a $5,000 ecotourism adventure for two.

    If you’re interested, check it out here : http://tinyurl.com/cj83eb
    You will have to make some small and easy green challenges to help taking care of the Earth. Good point on this Earth Day, no?
  • We were doing well as a nation when oil prices went up. Driving dropped for the first time in decades and for the most part has stayed depressed. The effects on consumption were gigantic and resulted in all the OPEC cuts we were reading about.
    Although car pooling is not always practical I found last summer consolidating trips and eliminating some of the "joy" riding we all got familar with on cheap gas cut my gas bill.
  • Tim
    You're right. While many aren't ready to give up their car, we could look at what trips could be avaided or done through other means, like walking or biking.

    Having said that, there's a lot to be done at home, by way of not just improving, but transforming and sometimes it's just a matter of awareness.

    For example- It's now possible one’s home off the power grid entirely. I think the more this becomes known, the more common it will become. I’m currently in an apartment because my wife works close by where we live, but once we move out west in a couple years, it’s my plan to have the house producing it’s own energy.

    Wouldn’t it be cool to get more than half the homes out there doing that? Eventually it would reach a “tipping” point where others sucking energy from power companies would feel like they are losing out- and losing energy money. And they would be. gethomemadeenergy.org
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