Imagine, 2.9 billion gallons of gasoline "down the drain" every day. Motor vehicles emit 20 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) per gallon of gas burned, for a national average of 5.5 tons per year, per motorist.Within the U.S., approximately 77% of us insist on driving alone to work, burning up 34% of the energy used in getting around. Yet we still want to do the right thing. Luckily, the following considerations can help.
- Avoid high speeds. Calculations demonstrate a decrease of 3 miles per gallon between 55-65 mph, which rises to 4.3 mpg between 55-70 because of wind resistance.
- Avoid jackrabbit starts. Gentle acceleration definitely cuts down on gas usage. The "Driving Change" pilot program in the Denver area harnesses an innovative accelerometer (made by Cartasite, Inc.) with the access of the Internet to help motorists track their driving techniques in an effort to help reduce air pollution and increase mpg.
- Avoid unnecessary sudden braking. Coast to a stop to save gas and lower the amount of asbestos fibers in the air.
- Only use "cruise control" on the open highway. In heavy traffic, it simply wastes gas.
- Practice optimized shifting techniques. Get into higher gears as quickly as possible.
- Switch off the air conditioner to save 5% to 15% of the energy your car uses.
- If idling is anticipated for over 60 seconds, shut the engine off.
- Lighten the load: 1% of fuel efficiency is lost for every 50 pounds of extra weight in your trunk.
- Remove bike, luggage, or ski racks from the top of your SUV or truck for less wind resistance.
- Keep tires fully inflated to manufacturer's specifications for a 3% gas savings.
- Use a multi-grade (versus "straight") motor oil to improve mileage by 1.5% to 2.7%.
- Keep your vehicle in good state of tune.
Lastly, practice combining errands. This reduces "cold starts," which account for a disproportionate amount of air pollution.
Sharing the ride pays double dividends
Spectacular gains accrue when partnering with a co-worker on the way to the office, as already discovered by over 10% of the working population. A two-person carpool immediately slashes the impact on the earth by 50%. Other advantages to carpooling include:
- A shortened duration of travel, since carpoolers can take advantage of high occupancy vehicle lanes.
- Savings of up to $3,000 per year. Easy to believe, since the AAA figures the average American spends 52.2 cents per mile, or $7,823 per year, to operate their motor vehicle. Reductions come from savings in gas and car maintenance expenses.
- Most carpool partners are patient enough to allow stops for errands on the way home.
- More free time during the commute. The passenger can read, rest, or eat breakfast.
- Less stress, lower blood pressure, and better mental acuity, as say studies at the University of California, Irvine.
- With a passenger, a driver's risk of death decreases by 7.5%.
For big time gains in reducing greenhouse gases, few things beat transit, and buses lead the way, consuming only 1.5% of the energy used to transport us to work, while carrying more passengers than trains. Commuting by bus could be for you if you:
- Live within 15 miles of work and within 15 minutes (on foot) of a bus stop.
- Work within 15 minutes of a bus stop.
- Have to make no more than one transfer.
As for buses, commuting by train only consumes 1.5% of the total transportation energy.
- Distances greater than 15 miles (except for intra-city trips, which can be much shorter).
- If you live in the suburbs, but work in the central business district.
- Have easy access to a train station (less than 15 minutes) and easy access to work (less than 15 minutes).
- You have difficult or expensive parking at work.
- Find a way to the train station without taking your car. Walk, if 1 mile, bike if less than 5 miles. This helps eliminate "cold" starts, which produce a disproportionate amount of air pollution for the distance.
While only 5% of the working population uses the bus or train to get to work, it helps the environment on several fronts:
- In the U.S., buses and trains combined put out 1/10 the CO2 that cars and trucks produce.
- New York City Transit alone, reduces air pollution by 400 million pounds each year.
- Employer paid transit expenses are tax free up to $115 month. That's $1380 per year that never shows up on your W-2 form.
- Using transit to get to work is not wasted time. Riders can read a book, concentrate on paper work, eat breakfast or dinner and even catch a quick nap.
Human-powered commuting
Believe it or not, far more people walk to work (just over 2%) than take a motorcycle, or even a bicycle for that matter. Walking and biking, of course, use zero petrochemicals and produce minuscule amounts of CO2. Bicycling just one day reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 24 pounds.
Telecommuting
Telecommuting means not going anywhere, but only in the literal sense. Approximately 3.6% of Americans e-mail, phone, or fax their completed work to their jobsite, remaining at home and saving tremendous quantities of gasoline while reducing air pollution. Talk to your employer about setting up a telecommuting program. Doing it just one day per week cuts your carbon footprint by 20%.
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