Taiga Company

In 2003 the U.S. Department of Transportation reported that Americans took 1.1 billion trips per day.  They also reported that 78% of these were in single occupant vehicles.  It is estimated that motor vehicles account for roughly 50% of urban air pollution and 30% of greenhouse gas emissions. 

As a sustainability consultant, I encourage clients to be creative with their daily commuting.  For example, UPS recently reported they were eliminating all left turns on their routes which would reduce their idle times at stoplights and thus reduce their emissions. 

An important aspect of creating a business or personal sustainability plan is finding the right incentives to keeping a program going.  Often business incentives might are not the same as personal incentives.

For businesses seeking business sustainability and a culture of eco awareness, Best Workplaces for Commuters (BWC) is an innovative program that provides qualified employers with national recognition and an elite designation for offering outstanding commuter benefits, such as free or low cost bus passes, strong telework programs, carpooling matching and vanpool subsidies.

For a personal sustainable lifestyle, NuRide is an online community where members are rewarded for using alternative forms of transportation such as carpooling, vanpooling, biking, walking, telecommuting or public transit. NuRide is free to join and free to use and is supported by sponsors who reward NuRide members for reducing global warming, traffic congestion and energy consumption.  Get more information at their upcoming webinar.

Regardless of the incentive, whether it is a personal sustainable lifestyle commitment or a rewards program, taking action to reduce miles on the road makes a big difference.  Follow what inspires you to take action and maintain commitment to the plan.  If you get stuck along the way, Taiga Company’s personal consulting is here to help.