Great Green Idea: Green Cars: Public Transportation and Sharing Rides

Public Transportation and Sharing Rides

Two Ways to Save the Environment and Your Budget

Carpooling and using public transportation are two ways to combat environmental damage. These are simple solutions everyone can employ. Most cities have public transportation such as mass transit systems. Carbon emissions can be drastically reduced by taking one or both of these measures. Carbon emissions increase and do more damage to the environment every year.

Public transportation is available in most areas. This mode of transportation not only reduces carbon emissions from cars, but is much cheaper than gas for individual passenger cars. Gas prices are continuing to rise and put a major strain on budgets all over the world. Carpooling is another way individuals can save money while protecting the environment. People ride to work together and split the cost of the gas bill. Many also plan shopping trips together to further reduce gas costs. The money saved can be spent on food or even placed in a savings account for future use on emergencies or a vacation.

The average household contributes 12.4 tons of carbon dioxide per year. 11.7 tons of this is from car use. This depends on the amount of miles driven in that household. Every gallon of gasoline burned produces about 19.4 pounds of carbon dioxide. It also depends on how well the car is maintained, as well as the car's MPG, or miles per gallon. Small cars generally emit .59 pounds of carbon dioxide per mile, while medium cars emit 1.1 pounds per mile, and SUVs/4 wheel drives emit about 1.57 pounds per mile. This means a commute to and from work that is 20 miles in a medium sized car emits 22 pounds of carbon dioxide per day. An average work week of 40 hours in five days will result in 110 ponds of carbon dioxide a week and 5,720 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. A two car family with two people working, of course is twice that.

Many scientists believe that the warming of the oceans is because of the increase of carbon dioxide. GHG, or greenhouse gases, cause the greenhouse effect. Carbon dioxide is one of the primary gases in greenhouse gases. These gases are a necessary part of the earth's atmosphere. The earth's surface would be much colder on average than it is right now. These gases also have negative effects at increased levels. The temperature of the earth rises as the levels of these gases rise. The rise in temperature is causing glaciers to melt directly affecting marine life. Polar bears will run drown as they run out of surface to stand upon. Some marine life will relocate leaving those species left behind with no food source.

Two ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions are to carpooling and using public transportation. Carpooling with friends can be interesting and much more fun than driving to work alone. People have set up carpools for many things, not just work. People create carpools to take children to school and to attend college themselves. Some carpools are shopping carpools. Individuals plan shopping trips for groceries or for fun together. Public transportation is extremely cost efficient. Most large cities have transit systems and sell monthly passes. These passes can be used unlimited times during the purchase month. Buses can be utilized to go to work, go to college, and to shop. This is something simple individuals can do for the environment and for their budget.