How to "green" your transportation

Green transportation is a laudable goal, yet challenging to accomplish. If you own a classic, regular auto, you face this challenge every day. You realize that you're burning fossil fuel, gasoline, and creating carbon emissions that harm to the environment.

Eco-friendly transportation is a worthy goal and can certainly help our environment. But, how can you make a positive statement when going green with transportation?

Most suggestions are those that you've heard before, but may not have put into practice yet. Like all other eco-friendly transportation and other environmentally positive activities, you can't change years of pollution or damage over night. You can, however, do your part by making an environmentally helpful statement in every day life. For example:

Conserve fuel

Unless you have an auto that is a hybrid or runs on natural gas or another alternative fuel, you need to use gasoline to power it. Taking all possible measures to conserve your fuel consumption makes a measurable impact on your environment and energy use.

Think fuel efficiency

Consider buying a hybrid or fuel-efficient auto for your next car. Put off purchasing that Ferrari that can take you to 160 mph quickly. Even if you must have luxury, you'll have many options to purchase wonderful hybrid (battery, alternative fuel, and/or gasoline combinations) or fuel-efficient luxury cars instead of gas hog SUVs or trucks.

Fly less frequently

Minimize your air travel when possible. Traveling via aircraft is often necessary. Aircraft also contributes up to 10% of all the carbon dioxide created by the transportation industry. Your next coast-to-coast trip will generate around one ton of CO2 for you and each of your fellow passengers. As yet, there are no alternative energy options as there are with hybrid autos.

Travel by train

Use rail travel when convenient. Traveling by train is fun and environmentally friendly. Even though rail travel typically involves using some fossil fuel products (even electric trains may receive their energy from coal burning plants), an almost full train generates a small carbon footprint and is preferable to auto or air travel.

Take the bus

Buses are good alternatives. Although buses produce some carbon emissions, by carrying multiple passengers and employing effective exhaust systems buses are eco-friendly transportation.

Think about using a scooter

Consider a scooter for short trips. Scooters are great fun and quite safe once you learn their limitations. By enjoying 50 to 75 miles per gallon of gas, scooters rank high on the eco-friendly transportation scale. While you generate a small carbon footprint, using a scooter is fossil fuel efficient, is low on the CO2 generation scale, and is fun.

Green transportation activities of governments

Many cities, towns, counties, and national governments share your recognition of the importance of greening your transportation activities. This level of concern is not relegated to the United States, as most of the world community has recognized the problem, too.

In February 2008, Zurich, Switzerland hosted the Green Transportation and Logistics World Summit. One goal of this symposium was to educate attendees about the importance of greening all transportation activities around the globe. A second objective of this gathering was to create a unified group of business and government to implement effective eco-friendly transportation.

Governments in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. have continued to adopt green transportation measures on a consistent basis for years. Some efforts are simple, but effective.

For example, creating High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) restricted lanes on many highways reduces carbon emissions and rewards drivers, by allowing them to bypass traffic congestion during rush hours and other high traffic volume periods, and has achieved eco-friendly transportation goals in many states.

In congested cities from Boston to Seattle, HOV lanes make life easier for commuters and/or the environment with reduced carbon emissions.

Improving public transportation availability has achieved success in many cities around the globe, also. By increasing routes, making buses, subway and rail cars more pleasant, and keeping costs low, varying degrees of rider increases have occurred. Most city leaders would admit they wish their success rate was higher, but these green transportation efforts have reduced carbon footprints.

To effectively infuse green transportation activities, individuals need to cooperate with public and government initiatives. Supporting eco-friendly transportation while driving your 1962 V-8 Cadillac to and from work every day does little to reduce carbon emissions.

However, taking public transportation or driving a fuel-efficient or hybrid vehicle turns your vocal support into meaningful action.