Reducing Your Daily Commute’s Footprint
Commuting by car is hard on the environment, but in many cases, this is the only way people can get to and from work. Public transport is not always available, or reliable, and in those cases, you need to think outside the box. There are many things you can do that will reduce your footprint and help the environment, all without changing your behaviour too much. Here are a few suggestions on how to reduce your daily commute’s footprint:
- Don’t Buy a New Car
New clothes, new items, and new cars all have one thing in common: they take a lot of resources. Making a new car is very damaging to the environment. Producing a new car means that new steel, glass, rubbers and plastics, paints, fabrics, and more need to be manufactured. Each of those materials comes with its own carbon footprint. Then there are also the transportation costs of shipping these new cars from the plant to the dealership.
If you want to be greener, always buy a used car. These cars have already been made, meaning that you haven’t contributed to the growing footprint behind production. You are, essentially, giving new life to a vehicle. There is nothing wrong with used cars; they are typically only a few years old, and, when you buy from a dealership, they are certified to be in top condition.
You will save money and save the environment. This is especially important if you need a strong vehicle for work or want a versatile, all-purpose vehicle like the robust Ford Ranger. You don’t have to limit yourself or your needs to reduce your carbon footprint; you only need to buy used.
- Carpooling
When you carpool, you are making friends with your co-workers. If you aren’t carpooling with your co-workers, then you are carpooling with people who live in your neighborhood and work near you. Either way, carpooling is great for the commute. You can socialize, share in the pain of traffic, and make friends. Most people who carpool also consider it fair to split the cost of fuel.
The environmental benefits to carpooling are great. For every person you carpool, you help the environment. By completely erasing the footprint that your passengers would have used, had they been driving by themselves, you are doing your part in saving the environment. If you aren’t sure the benefits of carpooling, use this calculator. The numbers alone will convince you the power of carpooling.
To be a global citizen, you need to understand your impact on the environment. Your carbon footprint goes beyond what you, personally, use in terms of energy and the waste you produce. Your carbon footprint traces all the way back to every new shirt you buy. New cars are not the way to go to reduce your carbon footprint. Buying used will save you money and recycle a perfectly good vehicle. Carpooling will help reduce your carbon footprint (and again, save you money) as well. Going green means saving money!
