Posts Tagged ‘habits’

Thanks to Liene Vanaga and Pavel Rodin.

Usually strange things happen in the last days in October in many places. While we feel for those in trouble by storms we act with positive actions for sustainable development. At the same time lots of people are dressing up, making pumpkins and try to scare each other. And you may not know if those ghosts, zombies, witches and other strange creatures are real or not.

Guess what we met today on our way to work?

At Lindholmen Science Park in Sweden people who commute greener were greeted and others were tricked!

Sometimes these Halloween creatures are more inspiring than horrible and scary. Our one definitely wants to inspire you to change your behaviour at least for one day and chose public transport or biking instead of driving car. This is a chance to get a lot of positive emotions, meet people and experience beautiful autumn days or the season that surround you currently. At the same time you will take care of the environment.

To see the progress and share experiences you can always note journeys, as an organization with a dedicated community, or with rewards via our new Facebook application!

Now, make your own green-minded pumpkin and join our competition! Share it by sending a picture to CommuteGreener@volvo.com or upload on www.facebook.com/CommuteGreener

The most creative one will get some nice surprise from us  -  Everything is possible!

Just try it and Commute Greener!

Have you heard the line before? I do agree with Joni Mitchell in her line that “You don’t know what you have got till it’s gone…”. Today, marks WWF Earth Hour, and time pass quickly, you can never regain a lost hour so do the best you can with focus on sustainable results…

For me this hour is planned with some friends to climb a small mountain and in a picnic reflect upon on how Goteborg will turn off the lights for an hour. At the same time it marks a start to turn on WWF.commutegreener.com

We encourage everyone to take one step more, get measurable feedback and contribute to positive change. Let’s not come to discover that “They paved paradise to put up a parking lot”.

I hope it is ok to share this video for a good cause and maybe you like to share a favorite as well?  Enclose a link into a comment or place at the Facebook page which, by the way, just got the timeline

Commute Greener!

A posting from guest blogger Jessica Gold, Sustainergies

It takes courage to question and challenge existing systems and behaviors. To start a movement requires leadership, guts and the right people. Luckily some forerunners have the courage to become first leaders; they stand up to spread their ideas. Some people have the ability to recognize and willingness to join great ideas. Derek Sivers shows in his TED-speech a wonderful example of how a movement can be started.



For change to happen there is a need for someone to start the movement process, likewise followers are always needed. This is very true for the travelling choices we make. If individuals, both leaders and followers, work together, we can establish a sustainable way of travelling.

Jessica Gold

Hi!

You know, I think it is time for an inspiring example again! It is always nice when you open the morning paper, or in this case yesterdays issue of Metro, a free magazine which is common on buses and trams here in Sweden. Västtrafik, the local public transportation provider have a small section on their own, where they write about the buses, trams and all things public transportation. Normally it isn’t that interesting, but yesterday was a small treat.

Under the headline of “Fight against the carbon dioxide- schoolchildren take to their feet to reduce climate change” (link in Swedish) there were a rather cute article describing a challenge issued to schoolchildren in Gothenburg; walk to school and you gather points. One point for a walk of half a kilometer in the morning, another for a walk of at least 0,5 km in the evening and extra if the kids can make their parents use greener commute options instead of driving.

The prize for the best class in town is a whole day trip to the Liseberg amusement park. Someone really got their thinking cap on when they came up with that reward, kids over here would do almost anything for a full day there. I am quite sure I would have done the same actually. As an adult.

At the same time the kids get exercises in environmental stuff with simple games helping them understand how global warming works and why we must save CO2. The best aspect of this is that if you teach this in an engaging way when they are young, those kids will be aware when they grow older. Kids also have a tendency to teach their parents stuff like this, weather they want to listen or not. It’s just the way it is.

This little campaign is good on so many levels. It targets kids, which is really good as they are easier to teach these stuff then adults. It teaches them both sustainable and healthy habits which will make sure they don’t get caught in childhood obesity, which is something of a problem over here as well. By giving an entire class that kind of prize they make the kids bond as they are now a team. That can be a really good thing too. And of course they make fighting climate change fun. FUN!. Suddenly it is something positive instead of something boring or frustrating. And it encourages the parents to do the same.

Hat’s of to the makers of this campaign. You do a lot of things right here! Keep at it. There are a lot to learn from this as well. Changing to a greener commute should be fun. It should be tempting to change habits for better health, wealth and environmental gain. Competing like in this campaign is one good way to make it fun. We can see that the same is true with the Commute Greener! challenges in Gothenburg, within Volvo Group, in Mexico etc. People give large contributions to CO2 savings with relatively small investments in time and efforts and have fun while doing it.

Why not try this at the office or in the neighborhood. Name a prize of some kind (and make it a good one), make sure the higher ups/neighbors are in the competition as well (who doesn’t want to one up the boss/that annoying neighbor), register at Commute Greener! and compete away. Save CO2, get in shape and have fun while you are at it. What is not to like about that.

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Fredrik

Hi everyone!

Autumn is here. The trees are shifting in beautiful colors of yellow and red, leaves are filling the streets and the air has that wonderful little chill to it. There sure is a lot to like about this season. One thing NOT to like is the constant rain and winds though, am I right?

Autumn is kind of an odd season when it comes to preparing for the commute. Mornings are cold, but it is quite warm during the day. Rain comes without warning at the most random intervals, and mud get everywhere. Not the easiest time to commute, right? Well, no. Not if you skip preparations.

As always, proper preparation is the key to make the commute easier. It is all about small things, like paying attention to the weather reports, choosing which sort of transportation suits the day best etc. For example, if there is a total downpour outside then by all means drive. But make sure you do so in an eco-driving fashion. Maybe you can even pick up some colleagues on the way. If it is a clear but somewhat cold morning, then wear a sweater, but make sure you can remove it when you get to work. This isn’t exactly rocket science, right. A chilly morning sure makes you awake and ready for when the day starts, which is actually quite a nice feeling.

I feel a list coming. Yep, thats it.

• Bring a small umbrella in your bag. You don’t need those huge things so many are using, a small one is perfectly functional for surprise bad weather. You can keep one in the bottom of your bag, or even in your pocket if it is a very light type of umbrella.

• Choose a good waterproof backpack. Especially if you are lugging a computer around like so many office workers do today. That can be a lifesaver if you get caught in some nasty weather.
• Use sturdier shoes then the nice one you are working in. Yea, this one is for those who have to look presentable at work. But hey, I see people in low shoes without padding on the bus all year around, including frosty mornings and the whole winter season. Why freeze and go wet all day when changing to “work shoes” when you get there is so easy?
• Be sure you know the bus/train/subways timetable. Getting stuck waiting is bad in summer, but when it is raining and/ or cold, you don’t want that.
• When biking, be sure you wear warm but breathing clothes. Your coworkers will thank you:)
• Public transportation, especially rail bound that goes above ground, often run late when leaves and ice clog up the rails. This is something we have had a problem with several times in Gothenburg, and I am sure it isn’t a totally isolated problem. Be sure to have enough time so you don’t get late.
• And the last point on the list; don’t get discouraged from choosing greener commute options just because the summer with its lovely weather and warm mornings are over. It is more then possible to make the commute sustainable as well as comfortable regardless of season, it is just a matter of preparations.

When it comes down to it, sustainable everyday transportation should be something natural. That car is just too convenient and comfortable. It is easy to simply choose the easiest option when the weather is bad and the cold is creeping in, but trust me on this one, it is perfectly doable. It is even quite comfortable if you prepare according to the weather and season. With climate change and all kinds of environmental problems getting more and more apparent it is important that we change the way we live. Taking the bus, or getting a rain kit and bike is quite a small effort which can bring about other changes. And every small step counts. Try it out. After a couple of weeks you will probably feel like you have done it forever. And you have done the planet a big favor.

Fredrik

Hi!

Our commute makes up a large part of our personal CO2 footprints. How large varies with what kind of transportation we choose, how far we go, how often and many other factors. Driving have been the transportation option of choice for a majority of commuters for several years, but lo and behold; trends point towards greener commutes!

I came across this interesting article in the Internet version of the New Scientist magazine a couple of hours ago. It contains a

Taking the bike to work is getting more and more popular. This is the Queen's Square in Gothenburg during autumn.

discussion of how our habits are changing in response to new technology, higher gas prizes and an economy that is down the drain. Apparently we reached a travel peak a couple years ago. Since then the number of new cars sold and vehicles on the streets have become fewer in the “west”. It is a shame that the “east” have taken up wests bad habits, but that is another story. Something quite interesting is happening right now; cycling to work, or taking the bus, is getting more and more trendy. Just look at the rapid raise in interest for biking. Facebook have several pages devoted to this mode of transportation and there are numerous blogs on the subject. That public transportation is also getting more and more attention in social media is a more low key trend, but it is still there.

Why is a greener commute getting trendy, and why now? Who are the ones who choose to commute greener? Well, let’s quote the article, as the author says it better then I could;

Demographics is a more likely explanation. It is surely no accident that peak car happened first in Japan, which has the world’s oldest population. Pensioners do not drive to work, and many don’t drive at all. There is also the rise of people like me, “virtual commuters” who work from home via the Internet. -Fred Pearce, New Scientist issue 2825, The end of motormania

Social scientists detect a new “culture of urbanism”. The stylish way to live these days is in inner-city apartments. The suburbs suck. Richard Florida, an urban studies theorist at the University of Toronto in Canada, points out that the young shop online, telecommute, live in walkable city neighbourhoods near public transport and rely more on social media and less on face-to-face visiting. Given those changes, they can think of better ways to spend their money than buying a car. -Fred Pearce, New Scientist issue 2825, The end of motormania

So, older populations and a new lifestyle from the young generation change the regular commute patterns. According to this article, the number of youngsters with a drivers license is decreasing. And due to the economy and rising fuel prizes, more people choose alternative means of transportation. Isn’t that just wonderful. Less CO2 from transportation, less congestion, less pollution and less noise are good effects that may come from this. The “new” emphasis on biking and walking may even help people to get out and become healthy.

The question is if this trend will continue. Public transportation projects are popping up everywhere and several cities in Europe are working hard to get their citizens to bike or use public transportation and ditch the car. In north America as well as Mexico there are several similar campaigns and projects going. Will we see a new kind of society growing from the possibilities of telecommuting and virtual meetings?

No matter if this holds or not, I personally hope more people will get interested in how they can reduce their CO2 footprint through this. And that walking, biking  and taking the bus will become the natural mode of transportation for the young and the next generation. After all, by taking the bike once a week, you shave of 20% of your commute CO2 imprint. By doing it every day, you hit a solid 100%. No emissions at all. And a bus emits some 45g CO2/km and passenger. A large car, which most often only have a single occupant scores a wopping 240 g CO2/km. That is a large difference. Let’s hope the low end alternatives will be dominating in the future. While the trends aren’t that drastic, more green commuters is definitely a very positive thing!

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Fredrik

Hi!

You know, I don’t really get why bicycling have become a hip lifestyle choice. Why so much rage is directed towards it and why you are “one of those greenies” if you pedal to work. I mean, come on! It is just another mode of transportation. Not only that but it is still one heck of a way to get around on shorter distances, and a fun experience if you bring the kids as well.

In my mind, riding a bike should be something natural. There is good infrastructure and you can get around quickly and efficiently without driving. It is not something for just environmentalists and poor people. But for some reason you sure can find a lot of that in arguments online.

The real world doesn’t look like that of course. The infrastructure is often lacking and cycling takes more time, something many don’t feel they have in todays society. Poor people often choose to cycle as it is free, thereby adding to that image. And of course the green crowd pick up the bike as it is good for health as well as the environment. Does that mean that you have to bee in one of those two groups to cycle to work? No. Definitely no.

I myself think it is a cultural thing. You don’t see this as much in European blogs, but in the North American blogosphere this kind of reasoning is everywhere, on both “sides”. Drivers who hate cyclists. Cyclists who hate cars and want them out of the picture. And then there are the sensible people who try to reason and see more then their own sides argument. However, cycling is kind of a new phenomena in North America. Cyclists and drivers don’t know how to interact and coexist and the infrastructure is in my understanding often sub par. In Europe it is more established and kind of natural.

As a cyclist I can really understand why drivers dislike cyclists. When driving it can be scary when you have unprotected and unpredictable people on the road. But that doesn’t account for parking in the bike lane, cutting bikers of and shouting obscenities to cyclists. I sadly have read about in several bike related blogs. I am really not sure how widespread this is. But still. I am also sure that cyclists who doesn’t care to follow the same rules as everybody else, and who are totally unpredictable may play a part as well. I sure don’t like when a cyclist start to wiggle over the road or decides to suddenly turn without a warning. On the other hand I don’t like drivers who act as if cyclists doesn’t exist at all or behaves badly either.

Now this is just some musings on my part. I don’t know the root to the problem. But I know something will have to be done to change this. As of now more and more people decide to use personally powered vehicles for the daily commute. We can’t have people afraid of trying out a bike ride when we have a climate which is changing in a horrible pace and diminishing oil reserves around the world. Bicycling is part of the future. It has to become accepted if we are to solve the problem with increasing traffic. You are not a “greenie” or some kind of hippie for picking up the bike. It doesn’t have to become a lifestyle choice either. This is just another way to get from point a to b.

A green commute is for everyone. It is not special to take the bike to work. Or the bus for that matter. Or walking. But it is good for the environment. It is good for the health. It is good for the wallet. But for it to work we need good infrastructure. And for that to happen there have to be political consent. Which doesn’t come before people really want and use the infrastructure. In other words; try a green commute. Behave well and stay safe. Who knows, if cycling become really common, as it is becoming in many pats of the world, it may move beyond a mere lifestyle choice and become a totally integrated part of the infrastructure. Look at the Netherlands, Denmark or Sweden for example. It is possible.

Fredrik

Hi!

Eco-driving, green driving or whatever one might call it is something we have written about several times on this page. If it isn’t possible to commute without a car where you live, it is at least a good idea to make sure you get as much as possible out of every litre/gallon of fuel and thus reducing your CO2 emissions, right? You might even save some money. Or a lot depending on your current style of driving.

The problem is that when gas prizes have historically been low, especially in oil producing countries (I’m looking at you USA), no one have really bothered learning this driving style. Why bother when a gallon of milk is more expensive then fuel after all. And there is no real hard proof of global warming, right? That’s just those eggheads in white lab coats and hippies speaking. Right?

Buuuuuuut! Times are changing. Fuel is getting more and more expensive. People complain and pay their last money at the pump. It is getting more and more apparent that something is happening with our climate. While many are uninterested in changing climate and warmer summers and colder winters, saving money is interesting to anyone. This was discussed at a transportation conference during may in California by experts from scientific institutions as well as industry representatives.

The conclusion; sure it is a good time to try to introduce eco-driving to the public. We have the economical incentive, environmental incentive and lots of new technology to play with.  But there are lots of stuff we don’t know about drivers behaviour which need to be researched first.

I agree with this. Eco-driving requires a special set of mind. You will have to plan ahead, be careful and think of what you are doing. The ride should be smooth with only the absolute necessary stops on the way. So is it just for smart people? Well no. Anyone can do it. But most people don’t know the benefits or the technique. Or have the patience to try. I have had cars switch lane to pass me at a red light, only to have to step on the breaks when they are past me more then once. Not exactly green and planned behaviour.

Tailpipe emissions from a cold start - Wikipedia commons

So what is the solution? Well, look at the benefits. Should eco-driving be named econo-driving as is suggested in the article above? I say why not. Saving money is always tempting, and making every drop of fuel count is getting more and more important. In doing so, you have less emissions. The environment is happy as well as the purse. Mandatory eco/economy driving classes for drivers licence education? We have that here in Sweden, but you still see people speeding towards red lights, hitting the breaks, standing still and then making a burnout trying to get up too speed as fast as possible.

Would new tech be a way to encourage green behaviour? I don’t know. Having the GPS point out which road has the best possibility of green driving may very well be something for all the technique interested people around the world. Displays showing current and best fuel consumption as well as current CO2 emissions may be something as well. But will this really change anything? Will people become greener drivers because a piece of tech says so?

As you can understand, this is just speculations on my part right now. I literary have no idea of how to change an uninterested persons mind, especially on such a touchy subject as driving style. A survey made by a newspaper here in Sweden showed that 80% of the drivers who answered thought they were “above average” drivers (and most of them are most certainly NOT above average:P). I am sure it is the same in other countries as well.

Hopefully eco-driving will not be something “special” in the future. Everybody will do it and not think anything about it. Well, the best would be if everyone took the bike to work. Or the bus. Or the train Or walked. Hopefully those will be the most common modes of transportation in the future.  But we are used to driving, and this is a good(ish) way to at least reduce the emissions a bit. Try it out. There are lots of guides out there on the net. It is fun, will save you some money and reduce your CO2 footprint a bit.

/

Fredrik

Btw, you do like us on facebook, right? If not, come in and give us a thumbs up!

You see it every day. Long lines of vehicles, moving slowly in a start/stop pace occupied by single drivers. All of them looks irritated. All of them looks stressed out. Traffic congestion is a huge problem both from a logistic and an environmental point of view. Start/stop traffic is a very wasteful way of driving, practically spewing out CO2 and particles as the engine of the car has to work hard on low gears. Not a green way to commute at all!

I came across this article during the morning stroll through my article feed. IBM recently made a quite large survey in several large cities across all continents . They asked some 8000 people questions about how long the commute usually take, traffic flow, price of gas and health issues.  And much much more. All this went into their index of how bad a city is to coping with the commute;

The Top 10 cities with the worst commute in the world:

1. Beijing (99)
2. Mexico City (99)
3. Johannesburg (97)
4. Moscow (84)
5. New Delhi (81)
6. Sao Paolo (75)
7. Milan (52)
8. Buenos Aires (50)
9. Madrid (48)
10. London (36)

-Andrew Nusca, smartplanet.com

Stockholm, Capitol of Sweden got the 20th place. If you live in one of these cities, then you probably spend a lot of time in traffic. All of these cities have one thing in common; they are large. Some of them are growing at a rapid pace, and the infrastructure can’t keep up. Economical growth have its backsides after all. As you can see, Mexico City is sharing the first place with Beijing. The interesting thing is that Mexico City’s employees are using Commute Greener! and are getting great results. A while ago they even got the first Commute Greener! certificate for good results in saving CO2 and changing habits. I must say, good work! Especially since the city is one of the worst in the world to commute in.

If it is possible to commute in a greener way in such a city, why couldn’t it be possible in all cities around the world? Not being stuck in those long lines of frustratingly slow moving vehicles is something to strive for after all. That kind of traffic situation even affect the health of the driver a great deal with all the emissions, particles, stress, irritation and all that sitting still. Better to do a little research and try out a transit commute, or a bike commute once or twice a week.

One problem for at least some of these cities are that driving is a status symbol. Being able to afford a car is a sign that you are doing well for yourself. Making money. Status. In these cities, like Beijing and New Delhi, the car culture is somewhat new. I grew up with pictures of massive amounts of cycling Chinese on the news every time a TV rapport from the east was on the air. Now we get rapports of mile long traffic stops instead. On the other hand, they do have some interesting ideas of how to combat the congestion, like those huge monster straddling buses. Better infrastructure, this or regular, will come even in booming cities but for it to be effective, people will have to use it. And as long as it is only poor people riding it won’t be a priority. Sad but true. And according to this study 95% of the asked Chinese’s said that the commute affect their health. Does that sounds sustainable?

The bottom line is that it is often possible to commute greener, even if you live in a large city. That will probably be the only sustainable way to commute in the future. It is better to do your share now, and benefit from better health while saving the planet. It is possible. The workers of Mexico City showed that.  Why not try it out. A little planning, some changes of habits and some endurance and you may very well start your greener commute really soon! It is worth it.

Fredrik

As stated earlier this week, CO2 levels are beginning to rise again. The International Energy Agency estimates that 80% of the CO2 rise until 2020 will come from already locked in sources, ie. new power plants and increased transportation. The goal of stopping global warming at 2 decrees Celsius is getting more and more out of hand. While it will be difficult to stop this development, we will have to work even harder to prevent the rise to become 2,5, 3 or even higher. All the more reason to get moving right away.

An employer can affect the employees a great deal, at least of how they behave at work. An example is Volvo Group’s environmental management system with its basic environmental course at the introduction for a new employee. Throwing a campaign to promote greener behaviour, including but not limited to the commute, is another good way to make people  think about and see for themselves the benefits of sustainable actions. Commute Greener! is of course a perfect tool for this, as the program not only visualize the commute pattern and tracks progress but also shows rewards in health and wealth as well as provide a way to compare and compete with others.

But running such a campaign can be rather tricky. It has to be well planned and executed with enough rewards to make it interesting, but still stay economical. Timing it to the winter or a similar period of bad weather may also act as a deterrent from participation. There are a lot to think about!

10:10 global recently released an article about how the HCR group made making sustainable choices bearable and fun. Environmental training in itself can have a negative ring to it. It is just more work on an already full schedule for many who are unaware or simply not interested. HCR’s marketer Simon Hood and the other at the head of the environmental program recognised that;

Getting employees’ buy-in is the most important part of the training as they are the ones that make the real impact – turning off the lights, printing less etc. I knew that we had to make the training fun, so at the beginning of December HCR held its first ever environmental awareness day.

In other words, they made something fun out of something that is often done as a routine. Combine that with freebies and competitions, they got the employees on-board for the ride. What’s to say that others couldn’t do the same?

During summer 2010 Commute Greener! ran a commute awareness campaign with Gothenburg City, resulting in more then 10 000 km with public transportation and almost as much gathered Zero Emission kilometres. One of the competing teams even managed to reduce their CO2 footprint from the commute by 2/3. This was the first major campaign we ran, and the experience from it is that if you make it fun enough, people will participate out of free will. Few won’t take up the challenge if they get a chance to win over the boss, or show that pesky “rival” department how much better they are. If you run the campaign for long enough, many will have developed a new habit. As long as the campaign is timed to a period of nice weather and the office isn’t located too far out of the city/there are good access to buses or trams, and the event is well planned and informed about for a while before, you may be able to really make a good impact on the local, regional and global environment. Who wouldn’t want that?

Commute Greener!