Cut down on the gas and use these more environmentally conscious means to get around town
By: Kelechi Obasi
In Canada, the transportation industry is responsible for 27% of the country’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Nearly half of that is attributable to light-duty vehicles such as cars, vans, and light-duty trucks. While fuel consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from cars and light trucks have gradually increased over the past two decades, automakers have been effective in lowering emissions of criteria air contaminants (CAC) from these vehicles. These changes have been key in optimizing transportation options to help the environment.
Even if today’s light-duty vehicles are more fuel-efficient than they were in the 1970s, we are driving them farther than ever before, which results in higher fuel consumption. As Canada uses a lot of energy, there are opportunities to use this energy more efficiently.
According to Natural Resources Canada, by pledging to drive more fuel-efficiently, the millions of Canadians who commute by car each day may take action to lower their fuel consumption and slow down the rate of climate change. This article outlines some ways we can all contribute to reducing educing the toll our use of fossil fuels takes on the environment.
Method 1: Carpooling
There are additional options that can make your daily travels more affordable and environment-friendly if walking, biking, and taking public transportation are not practical possibilities for your commute. Carpooling is one of them; all you have to do is identify people who commute in a similar way and volunteer to travel with them.
Carpooling is a terrific way to save money and feel good about lowering your personal environmental impact because you can split fuel costs and reduce your emissions per person.
Method 2: Car Sharing
Car sharing is a method that you can use to avoid the high costs of purchasing and keeping a vehicle if you just require a car every now and then. You can reserve and rent a car from well-known car-sharing companies like Zipcar and Turo. Because fees can be paid hourly or daily, the method is ideal for short-term sharing.
The vehicles are typically parked in designated spaces in handy areas along streets in the city. After making a reservation on the app, all you have to do is use your unique Zipcar card to unlock the vehicle. You return the car to the location where you picked it up when you’re finished using it. Gas and insurance are included in the yearly and hourly or daily rates.
Method 3: Alternative Fuel Vehicles
There are still solutions available to you even if you don’t have access to reliable public transit or a timetable that forces you to rely on carpooling. If you’re still steadfast in your resolve to lessen your carbon impact, you can think about researching alternative fuel vehicles (AFV).
Owning a personal automobile does have its perks, so you think about an alternative fuel vehicle which uses fuels other than petroleum. One such alternative fuel that generates less pollution and greenhouse gases is compressed natural gas (CNG). Biodiesel, which is produced from vegetable oils and animal fats, and ethanol, which is obtained from plant materials, are examples of renewable fuels.
Method 4: Electric Vehicles
An all-electric vehicle is an additional option. At one point, only one company held sway over the electric car industry, but over time, the market for EV’s has grown exponentially with almost every car maker releasing its own electric vehicle version. However, with some encouragement from the Canadian government, more people are switching over to EV’s as a more energy efficient and environmentally friendly substitute to the standard gas powered engine.
Although the high-end EV’s are quite pricey, compared to gasoline-powered cars, all-electric vehicles are more energy-efficient. In actuality, they produce no pollutants while in use and tend to emit less carbon dioxide than conventional cars.
Method 5: Hybrid Vehicles
You could require a different, more useful option in the interim until all-electric automobiles are able to dramatically increase their performance. Hybrid automobiles can help in this situation. Popular eco-friendly alternatives to conventional cars that use less fuel and yet are nonetheless dependable and perform admirably are the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius.
A hybrid car has a gasoline engine, an electric motor, and power-reserve batteries. The best of both worlds can be had by drivers by mixing the two types. For instance, electric motors can take over when gas engines are inefficient at low speeds, but gas engines can be used when more power is required.
