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It's easy to reduce the environmental footprint of your commute, whether you're driving a car or using public transit, by taking small steps such as:
- Ensure your car is tuned up. When your car is in optimum working order you'll save fuel and pollute less. Look at your oil type, tire pressure, and your catalytic converter.
- Choose an alternative fuel such as biodiesel (which requires special installation) or an ethanol blend (which works in most cars).
- Keep your tires properly inflated. Proper inflation reduces CO2 emissions, improves gas mileage and saves money.
- Carpool. Fill your car with friends and coworkers to make your commutes more fun, lively, and fuel and cost-effective.
- Avoid idling and unnecessary accelerating or decelerating, which waste gas and increase carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
- Leave your car at home. Taking public transit reduces pollutants and saves on parking and fuel.
- Trade in four wheels for two. When you cycle or walk to work or for small errands – or just for pleasure – you'll get exercise, and feel better.
- Telecommute. Work from home when possible and use the Internet and phone to do business.
- When traveling, stay at hotels which provide a linen reuse program, have high efficiency toilets and shower heads and support the renewable energy tag program.
- Travel by train, rather than air, when possible.
- Purchase carbon offsets to counteract CO2 emissions from travel.
- Enjoy vacations with a smaller footprint. Vacation somewhere close-by or go hiking, biking or canoeing.
- Inquire about hybrid and other fuel-efficient cars at your rental agency.
- Fly hospitality class. The extra room in first class may feel great, but the fewer people on the plane, the more planes in the air.
- Pack lightly – you'll thank yourself when you arrive at your destination!
- Consider "car sharing" at your destination instead of renting a car.
*Tips courtesy of www.treehugger.com, Environment Canada's National Office of Pollution Prevention: www.ec.gc.ca/nopp and DavidSuzuki.org.
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