Commuting to work by car is probably the least eco-friendly way to travel due to the gases and carbon dioxide that are emitted, especially if you are sitting in traffic. There are more eco-friendly ways to travel, and many alternatives work out cheaper and possibly even faster too. If you are looking for a more environmentally friendly way to get to work, then one of these six methods could work well for you.
1. Walk
If you live close enough to walk, then you could consider ditching the car altogether and walking to work instead. Walking is one of the most stress-free ways to travel. Think how annoying it is to be sat in traffic and you will understand the reasoning behind this. You can use a walk to wind down after a difficult day and it is a wonderful way to exercise too. You can ditch the post-work gym session in favour of walking home, and you may even get home earlier.
2. Cycle
If you live too far from work to walk, then cycling could be an excellent alternative. This is an eco-friendly way to travel, and it is a great form of exercise. Many companies offer cycle-to-work schemes which allow their employees to buy bikes at a reduced rate, so this is worth looking into. Cycling itself is free so you no longer need to worry about increasing petrol prices.
Cycling is a safe way to travel if you wear a cycle helmet and mostly stick to cycle paths. Cycling accidents only tend to occur on main roads and in situations where cyclists aren’t paying attention. If you need to make a claim for cycling accident it is easy and simple to do. However, cycling is actually less risky than driving a car.
3. Carpool
Most people commute alone, and this adds to environmental problems. If you work in a large office, you could help to reduce this by finding people to carpool with. Ask around and see who lives near you and whether you have to drive the same route. Carpooling reduces the number of cars on the road and is therefore eco-friendly. It also cuts the cost of your commute, and it could lead to making some great new friends.
4. Use Public Transport
Public transport may have more CO2 emissions than cars but, because there are more people using them, this divides the size of your carbon footprint considerably. Public transport runs regardless of whether you decide to use it or not so jumping on the bus or train will not cause additional damage to the environment.
Public transportation can be faster than driving. Trains do not get stuck in traffic jams and buses often have their own lane which means that they can whizz past commuter traffic in built-up areas and get you to your destination quickly. If you live in an area with good public transport links, this is worth investigating.
5. Change Your Working Practices
Many companies have become less rigid in their working practices due to the covid pandemic. Before this, most companies insisted on their employees working in the office from 9-5 and there was little flexibility. However post-pandemic, many companies have relaxed this rigid structure and now offer alternatives. Considering these alternatives can make your commute to work more eco-friendly. For example, if you switch to working from home then you forgo your daily commute altogether making your working life considerably more eco-friendly. If this is impractical, then even working from home one day per week will save 20% of your CO2 emissions as well as a fifth of your petrol bill.
Your company may allow you to work more flexible hours meaning that you can avoid rush hour traffic and shorten your journey to work. Your carbon footprint will reduce and you can have a more environmentally friendly commute. Hybrid working and remote WFH are game-changers for cleaning up commutes for everyone involved.
6. Change Your Driving Habits
If these options aren’t going to work for you then don’t despair. There are ways of making your commute greener without ditching the car or changing your working hours. Driving a hybrid car or EV is more environmentally friendly and with the government committed to ending the sale of new petrol or diesel cars by 2030, now might be a good time to make the switch yourself.
If you stick to the speed limit while driving, then your car will not experience the added strain that leads to higher emissions. This simple act will make your car more environmentally friendly and more efficient. Turn off your engine while stuck in traffic as this will further reduce the effect on the environment. Many modern cars have eco-mode options for their engines. You can also improve your mileage by avoiding sudden accelerations that rev up your RPM numbers. And finally, cleaner fuels like Super Premium octane with higher levels of cleaning agents can improve mileage at least slightly.
Cleaner Commuting Conclusion
There are many ways that you can switch to a greener commute aside from an electric car or hybrid vehicle. Many of them involve making simple or more health-conscious decisions that could be of huge benefit to you as well as the environment.
