How to Go Green: Commuting to Work

In light of the new economy, people are looking for new and innovative ways to save money while being good to the environment. Going green is easier than ever, especially in transportation and commuting to work. People who commute to work have often had to make adjustments to save money while getting to work. But now that the idea of going green is permeating every aspect of the lives of Americans, eco-friendly transportation can be easier than ever.

Planet Green offers many great ideas for people looking to switch to eco-friendly transportation while going green. Going green means switching to transportation sources that save on fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Some practical ideas for transitioning to eco-friendly transportation include options like carpool, bicycling, work from home, and changing work hours.

Carpooling has been the option of many who commute to work. Not only does carpooling save money, but can save time and stress for many workers. Setting up a carpool is as easy as getting together with other workers who live in the same area and agreeing on a schedule for what person drives at what time, while others share in the expense of gas. If more people would commute to work, it would reduce the number of cars on the road which reduces the harmful emissions produced by cars.

Many workers may also be able to ride bicycles to work as an eco-friendly way of commuting. Bicycles are cheap and don't have a regular maintenance cost like gasoline, oil changes and new tires. The drawback to riding a bicycle to work is the fact that most workers may not live within biking distance to their job or many Americans are too out of shape to bike to work and back home each day.

Another easy way to go green while commuting to work is to actually cut the commute and work from home. Many corporations are offering this incentive to workers who can set up their office and work from home. Taking the option to work from home also gets more vehicles off the road during peak driving times, plus the convenience of being home is an added benefit for many workers. Working from home can be less stressful and much more productive.

Finally, another easy option for going green in the commute to work is talking to the boss about changing work hours. Many companies now offer their employees the option to work a ten-hour workday in order to get an extra day off a week. This reduces the commute for these workers by 20% a week, which leads to fewer cars on the road. The longer work days can be a little more stressful, but most workers would prefer to work a longer day in trade for having an extra day off during the week.

Going green is becoming easier in this new eco-friendly environment. More car manufacturers are making flex fuel vehicles that are better on gas mileage and better for the environment. More people commuting to work realize they have the power to make small changes to be good to the environment and if every one commits to making one small change, all those small changes add up to big benefits for our fragile environment.