Climate change is real, and many people are changing their habits to embrace a greener, more eco-friendly lifestyle. While there are many ways to reduce your carbon footprint, one of the most important steps you can take is to embrace green transportation. The main source of greenhouse gas created by humans is the use of fossil fuels, and traditional cars and trucks are a major player in adding to the total. If you can give up your gas-guzzling vehicles in favor of green transportation, you’ll help the environment in a big way.
However, green transportation isn’t just about the type of car you drive — though it certainly includes your personal vehicle as a factor. Going green can also mean choosing to drive less or opting for public transportation, and there are several ways to think outside the box to make.
Common Forms of Green Transportation
When you think about green transportation, there are probably several things that come to mind,
- Walking: The greenest form of transportation of all, walking doesn’t require any fossil fuels or even any extra effort on your part — maybe just a decent pair of sneakers. Walking is completely easy and safe, and you can do it any time. Try adding it to your day by parking in central location and doing the bulk of your errands on foot instead of driving from parking lot to parking lot.
- Cycling: Riding a bike allows you to go farther than walking, though you do need a helmet and a bike lock. It’s also easier to do in an area with clearly marked bike lanes. You can get started, however, by making your bicycle your weekend vehicle for fun and fitness.
- Hybrid vehicles: When you need a new car, upgrade to a hybrid or even an all-electric vehicle that allows you to use far less gasoline than your old one. The less fuel you burn, the better your car is for the planet (and you can save money, too).
- Carpooling: Your car doesn’t use much more gas just because more people are in it, and fewer cars on the road mean lower greenhouse gas emissions overall. One way to introduce carpooling into your routine is to get a group of coworkers together and take turns driving to work. It’ll make the commute a lot more entertaining and reduce your carbon footprint at the same time.
Less Common Ways to Go Green
Some things you may not immediately think of when it comes to going green for transportation
- Public transportation: Think of public transportation as carpooling on steroids. When you take the bus or subway, you’re joining a whole group of people who aren’t adding to pollution and greenhouse gases in the air. You’re also often riding in vehicles that run on electricity or natural gas, which further helps cut pollution.
- Service and freight vehicles: Not all greenhouse-gas emitting vehicles have passengers. The trucking industry fills the roads with diesel engines, but even cleaner alternatives include freight trains and other forms of shipping. Cities are also changing to more efficient vehicles for everything from green street sweepers to snowplows.
- Construction equipment: A vehicle doesn’t have to go very far to use a lot of fuel. Construction equipment and machinery, for instance, often burn a lot of fossil fuel to get the job done. Companies, however, are stepping in to make everything from biodegradable hydraulic fluid to cleaner, quieter machines with lower idling times to help
The Growing Popularity of Green Transportation
Increased regulations are only part of the reason green transportation is booming. Companies are now realizing that there’s a market for these products, as more people are looking for ways to do their part to stop global warming in its tracks. With more options to choose from than ever, you can get where you’re going and help the environment while you’re doing it.
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