Transportation is responsible for a whopping 27% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. That includes planes, trains, and buses, but a good chunk of that comes from our personal vehicles.
If you drive a gas-powered vehicle, the simplest way to reduce your transportation emissions is to drive less often. Great alternatives for local transportation include carpooling, public transit, and micro-mobility options like electric scooters and bikes. Even better, bicycling and walking aren’t just environmentally friendly, they’re good for your health!
Hybrid and electric vehicles go a long way toward reducing carbon emissions (if the energy source is clean and renewable). But even if your car has an internal combustion engine, there are plenty of small eco-friendly steps you can take.
For example, driving the speed limit (or slightly under it) helps. Also, safe practices when gassing up can reduce carbon emissions — topping off the gas tank causes harmful vapors to escape into the air.
The following infographic from The Zebra offers tips to help you reduce your transportation carbon emissions — whether you’re commuting to work, running errands, or taking a long road trip.
Feature image by Alexander Grishin from Pixabay. This article was originally published on February 3, 2020.