Walk, Bike, Take the Bus
Reduce energy consumption and get a little exercise
You may think about energy efficient appliances and turning off electronics as ways to reduce energy consumption. But without cutting down on your driving, you’re really not going all the way. You don’t have to stop driving altogether; we know that’s too much to ask for most people, but there’s no need to drive everywhere.
Take a walk
You’ve probably already had the many benefits of walking drilled into your brain, such as better living through physical activity, maintaining youthfulness and losing weight. If that’s not enough for you, consider that you’ll be saving money and reducing harmful emissions. If you just need to make a quick trip downtown to pick up a few items, consider walking if you live close enough. Going to a friend’s house for dinner and they only live a few blocks away? Walking won’t hurt a bit.
Bike
For distances too far to walk, biking is another great option that can add some exercise to your day. It’s a great way to get to work, pick up a few groceries or take those books back to the library. You can get a pretty decent bicycle for around $100 to $200, even less if you stop at a yard sale and buy one secondhand.
Take the bus
Public transportation can be a hassle at rush hour, but isn’t sitting in gridlock on the freeway just as bad, if not worse? At least you can pass the time by reading a book, catching up on e-mail with your Blackberry or just relaxing. Buying a bus pass can save you a lot of money in the end, because you’ll find you won’t be fueling up as often as you once did.
For the times you still have to drive
Do you know how much mileage your car gets? Chances are you do, but it’s probably more about how often you have to refuel than how much pollution you are contributing. Trading in for a vehicle with higher fuel efficiency is the best way to cut your personal transportation energy use. And try to avoid aggressive driving, rapid acceleration and quick braking.
Carpooling is the next step. Seek out people who live and work near you and try to fill your vehicle (with people not fuel) before heading out. Carpooling has another benefit, too: it’s likely you won’t have to drive every day, allowing you that aforementioned time to relax.
