7 Ways to Green Your Commute with Technology

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    • Commute.jpg
    It would be great if everyone could work from home – think of all those greenhouse gas emissions we’d save by not commuting! Alas, to prevent the economy from falling into an even deeper recession, most of the American workforce needs to schlep to and from the office every day. Luckily, a slew of new technology can make your journeys a little more eco-friendly. Read on for tips to help you green your commute.

    Walk or Bike with a GPS or Google Maps
    To
    really decrease your commuting carbon footprint, the best thing to do
    is walk or ride a bike to work-after all, those are the only truly
    emission-free forms of transit. You can plan the best route by using
    online mapping tools like Google Maps.
    The easy-to-read online map will provide you with directions, gives you
    a door-to-door time estimate and even highlights local businesses. If
    you have a smartphone, you have another tool at your hands, as you’re
    likely have a GPS application on your phone that works with Google Maps to highlight where you are and offer you directions to reach your destination.

    subway.jpg
    
Take Advantage of Public Transit
    If you live in a sizeable city,
    chances are there’s a subway, rail or bus line that can get you pretty
    close to your destination. Find out what the best way to get to work
    sans car is with Hopstop.com. The web site provides step-by-step public
    transit directions for 14 US regions and is constantly adding more
    locations. If your region isn’t represented by Hopstop, it is almost
    certainly on Google Maps, which provides door-to-door directions and
    time estimates for pretty much everywhere.

    Sarah Parsons
    Sarah Parsons
    Sarah Parsons is a freelance writer and editor living in New York City. After learning about deforestation of the rainforest at seven years old, she wrote a strong-worded letter to President H.W. Bush complete with a drawing depicting the plight of homeless gorillas. It was then that her future as an environmentalist became clear. After graduating from Syracuse, she moved to New York and began her career as an environmental journalist. Over the past three years, she’s written about everything from endangered golden lion tamarins to the economic costs associated with unabated climate change. In addition to covering energy and technology for Inhabitat, Sarah has also written for Plenty, Popular Science, Audubon and OnEarth.

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    • http://profile.typepad.com/6p0000000000000014 Environmentally Friendly City Design

      In California they’ve passed a law aimed at considering commutes and other air quality issues when they lay out new communities. Just by zoning areas differently, commutes will be reduced and public transportation will be more practical.

    • http://profile.typepad.com/6p0000000000000014 scott christensen

      5 more ways to green your commute :
      . use your train time to study other sustainable initiatives
      . use your drive time to listen to global news
      . use your commute time to think of ways to green your work and workplace
      . store some of your pedal power for later use
      . improve something or someone elses life on the way to work

    • http://profile.typepad.com/6p0000000000000014 dave

      I’ve been commuting to work with a bike for almost two years. I ride part of the way (about 3 miles), then I fold my bike (I love it, it’s one of those Montague folding bikes) and take it on the train. When I get off the train it’s only 1 more mile to my office. The total trip takes around 45 minutes, and I change at work. If I take my car, the drive is about 30 minutes, but I would much rather commute 15 minutes longer each way and avoid traffic and paying for gas. I also save on time later in the day because I don’t have to go to the gym. I would love to see more bike lanes and smarter development for multi-modal commuting as cities keep building.

    • http://profile.typepad.com/6p0000000000000014 mike

      here in seattle, we’ve got ridepenguin for cab sharing. save CO2 AND money.

    • http://profile.typepad.com/6p0000000000000014 dillon

      I’ve been using FuelClinic.com for a year now, tracking my mileage and using the eco-driving driving techniques there. I’ve improved my mpg nearly 15% and can see exactly how much I saved, and how much it costs me to drive each year. It’s free and easy to use – http://www.fuelclinic.com

    • http://profile.typepad.com/6p0000000000000014 greenie

      Thank you for all efforts to reach sustainable development

      Set your target is a starting point for Commute Greener! based on the thought that everyone can contribute with a step for positive climate change. See the progress by engaging with multi-modal transport options, bike, bus, car etc according to situational conditions. Share experiences by connecting to friends and colleagues in order to make the daily commute more fun at the same time as getting better health, wealth and greener planet :-)

      http://www.CommuteGreener.com

      Again, thanks for all good efforts

      Commute Greener!
      /Greenie

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003406361337 Afshan

      up on Calhoun near the University of Cincinnati. I don’t understand why they didn’t inlcude more of those built-in bike racks, that look like circles, on the parking meters up there. All that new streetscaping looks great, but it is void of places to lock your bike. I’m glad the new Vine Street streetscaping project will inlcude those built-in racks I mentioned.