Posts Tagged ‘human habits’

Hi

You know, I go back to my environmental studies at the University tomorrow. And I will study air pollution. So, as I am a bit hyped over this, you get a piece of this;)

Every day on the commute, well any time we are out and about in the city,  we are exposed to several air pollutants. Ozone and particles are no brainers, as is smog and sooth. These pollutants go into our lungs, and can cause all kind of problems. Those with lung problems get the worst of it. Every year, lots of people die from this. The forest fires in Russia wreaked havoc among the sensitive people with all the particles and heat (not even going to touch all the collateral damage…). And in the rest of the world city air pollution are causing, or at least partitioning in the formation of asthma and heart problems. In some Asian cities people even use mouth protection, much like doctors, just to reduce the amount of particles they breath in.

Children have it worst, as they are breathing a higher volume of air/body weight, and with all the running and physical activity. Is this really something we want?

Not all air pollution has anthropogenic causes. Take Gothemburg as an example; we have some problems with traffic in certain areas, but also salt coming in from the Atlantic ocean. Still, as we exceed the maximum allowed levels of particles every year, air pollution is considered a big problem. With better cars and cleaner industry, sooth is less of a problem, but the increased driving is still causing an overall rise in air pollution in the developed world. And look at China… With hundreds of new cars on the road every day, they are going to have (even more) problems with dirty air before long.

Air pollution can be dampened by good asphalt and well constructed roads, as well as cleaner and better tires and vehicles. However as more cars and trucks are on the road, the levels still increase. The only real way to decrease this dangerous and potentially lethal pollution is to get people to drive less. Industry today is clean, or I should say not as dirty as it have been. They are not to blame for air pollution, at least not entirely. The amount of cars on the roads are though.

By changing your commute, you can participate in making our air cleaner and healthier. It could be your old mother, or child that get problems from excessive amounts of particles next. So take the bus, or train if you have a long way to work. Get other people to do it as well. Share the car with colleges in the morning and afternoon. Anything to reduce the amount of cars on the road. Check the tires, some are better then others.

Well, that’s it for today. Have a nice afternoon, commute greener and make sure to follow us on twitter and facebook

I’m off

Fredrik

Hi!

I hope you enjoyed Jennifers post yesterday. As someone that have studied some biology, I loved the video:)

While cruising through my feedly list this morning, I came across something that made me smile. In a blog entry at greenversations, US EPAs blog, Lina Younes gives some tips about how to take care of your car in an environmentally friendly manner;

• Keeping your tires inflated to the recommended level. When tires are not inflated properly they increase the wear-and-tear of the tire and fuel costs.
• Getting regular tune-ups will go a long way to increasing fuel efficiency and improving the lifespan of your vehicle.
• Changing the oil regularly will contribute to a cleaner engine and lower vehicle emissions.
• Keeping your air filter clean will also protect the environment.

In addition to giving your car the proper maintenance, there are simple steps to contribute to pollution reduction. How can you keep emissions as low as possible? Here are some tips:

• Don’t top off.  Don’t fill up the car with gas after you hear the click at the pump! Continuing to fill the gas tank after you hear the click is a total waste of money and actually sends harmful gasoline vapors into the air.
• Whenever you can, combine errands in order to reduce unnecessary driving.
• Don’t drive aggressively.
• Avoid stop and go traffic. I know this is easier said than done, but with some planning you can avoid abrupt changes in speed which waste gas, generate emissions, and cause greater wear-and-tear on your car.

And she also writes;

For those interested in adopting greener behaviors to reduce their carbon footprint even further, changing your means of transportation might be a good start. How about leaving the car at home at least one day a week for starters? Carpooling, using mass transportation, biking are greener transportation alternatives. And how about good old fashioned walking?

Recognise the message? I do, and I am sure you recognise it to. Commute Greener! is build around common sense, which is not all that surprising since it was thought up at Volvo, the corporation with the motto “lets make sure”. Add to that a culture of common sense, well.

As you can see from Lina Younes words, its not difficult to start reducing your carbon footprint, if you are willing to commit to some changes. And taking the bus once a week isn’t difficult. A bike commute doesn’t have to be difficult either.And it is possible, even in traffic heavy areas. This video is from amsterdam, by the youtube-user amsterdamster;

But if we leave the bike commuting, car maintenance is an important environmental AND health factor, on top of being important for safety. Lina writes that you should always keep the tires inflated to recommended levels, but it IS (usually, check before trying) possible to go a little bit over that. Tire companies set the levels for a safe and comfortable drive, but with a slightly higher pressure you get a bit less fuel consumption, at the cost of a slightly bumpier ride. The tires can handle it, they won’t be damaged if the pressure is kept within reasonable levels.

Don’t drive aggressively and avoid start-stop driving, and save gas and money. Also, skip gears, from 2-4, 3-5 etc. Good planning let you avoid stopping at red lights. All this is part of Eco-driving, something all driving schools should teach. It isn’t difficult, let you drive smoothly ans save money in the long run. If you are interested, or have/work in a position were you drive a lot, it is well worth learning. Many drivers schools have courses, at least in Europe (I’m not sure about other parts of the world…), and you can always look up a webpage and learn the theory, and then practise.

Well, that’s it for today. Have a nice weekend. And remember to visit us at facebook and twitter, and Commute Greener!

I’m off

Fredrik

One of my newfound passions in life is surfing. To me, there is nothing more exhilarating than to be out there battling the waves, trying to catch that perfect ride. But, what also goes hand-in-hand with surfing  is the relaxation I feel waiting for the next wave. And, the amazing opportunity to be out there amongst the dolphins, the pelicans, the fish – and yes, sometimes even the sharks (although, thank goodnes, I haven’t come close to a shark yet).

So, how does my passion for surfing relate to green commuting? Well, most days it doesn’t.  I carpool or try to take the bus many days, but when I have an early meeting  or as Fredrik described earlier, the weather is just horrible – it can be so easy to just want to get to my destination as fast as possible (which usually isn’t by carpool, bike or bus).

But, when I step back and think about the bigger picture, there is really no better motivator for me than to just get a glimpse at what’s happening to our oceans.  It breaks my heart to read the all-too-many, horrific stories these days about the dangers facing marine wildlife. And, for me,  this is enough of a “hook” to convince me to consider green commuting a must.  I want to see a future where I can surf and still have the presence of dolphins around me, where I still feel the air move when a pelican takes a dive for a fish above my head.

I came across this short and inspiring animated film, which made me reflect again on why it is so important that each of us take a small step towards change.  So, take a look and let me know what is it that motivates and fuels you to change?

Hi!

This is NOT a nice day for commuting. Gothenburg is suffering from one heck of a downpour, so bad that one could hardly see the ferry down at the harbour, about 100 meters from the office some moments ago… In other words; we got to be be prepared for a wet commute.

OK, am I going to write about the local weather today? Haven’t I got anything better to do?

No, not really

Well, rather I would like to discuss preparations. Commuting without a car takes preparations, like bringing an umbrella and a waterproof jacket.  Mass transit may require you to stand and wait in the rain for some time, so a full rain-proof suit is recommended. Yet, you still see MANY commuters that stand around trying to get into shelter from buildings, bus stops etc.

However, IF you do prepare some, a rainy commute is no problem at all. First of all; umbrellas offer lousy protection, no matter how big they are. I prefer to use a coat (and am really annoyed that I forgot it and brought the umbrella instead…) with a hood, as it offers better protection. Second; the seats are always wet on a day like this, so bring something to sit on during the commute. That is if you don’t like that “my butt is wet” feeling.

One thing that I cant stress enough is how important it is to handle the umbrella well on the transit. Wet and pointy things do not belong in peoples laps, or faces. Keep them on the floor, behind your feet.

A mass transit commute is kind of uninteresting to write about, its mostly common sense. A bike commute during rainstorms is MUCH funnier. Most people aim to drive or take the bus when the weather is like that. But some brave souls bike to work no matter the weather. And they have all kind of nice solutions. Umbrellas are not an option here, even if some brave (?) use them while cycling. However, rain-ponchos and rain-suits ARE. They are even really good. And it is a good investment as a good raincoat with matching trousers and a pair of rubber boots may always come in handy for dirty jobs around the house anyway.

But you also have to protect the bike from rust and/or frozen locks and gears. There are many anti-rust appliances out there, and some are even environment-compensated. That and some lock oil should always be close at hand for a bike commuter, as they help keeping the bike in good condition. Something to protect the saddle is also recommended. You can buy all kinds of fancy stuff for that purpose, but I simply use a plastic bag from the grocery store. After all, you have to get some use from it after bringing it home… And this is the most common method that I know of. Why buy something expensive when that useless bag is close by.

Another thing to think about is were you park the bike in this kind of weather… Indoor or under a roof is definitely preferable. Captain obvious strikes again

And remember to be careful in traffic. YOU have bad visuals when it rains, and drivers definitely have it too. Accidents can always happen, but with wet and slippery roads and bad visuals the risk is increased. Take it easy and be careful! And remember that a little rain is no reason to stop to Commute Greener!

That’s it for today! You have other tips and tricks for a safe and dry commute? Share them with us on facebook. We love to hear from you!

I’m off to write a rapport.

Fredrik

Hi again! I hope you all have had a nice weekend.

Part of what I do is to look for “green” trends online. I am sure you have guessed that if you have read some of my other stuff. And one thing that really strikes me is that bike commuting is getting more and more popular. It has been for a while actually. This is of course from an American perspective, as biking to and from work is quite natural here in Europe. This is a cultural difference, one that I think is derived from the fact that oil is quite expensive here. Like REALLY expensive. European children learn to ride a bike early, and constantly use it as a toy as well as a mode of transportation. So it is only natural to take the bike to school or work if the weather permits it.

I personally love this “new” trend. We should all take a bike-ride now and then, it is fun, good for you and cheep. And it is not hard to do, but as always; it takes some preparations to get ready. Like getting in tune with the traffic rules and regulations. I mean, COME ON! There is a reason why many drivers hate cyclists. I certainly do when I drive, and I am all for bike commuting in general. But I don’t know how many times a cyclist have just thrown him/herself in front of the car, nearly causing an accident. This happens because they;

1) Believe they are above the rules

2) They are sloppy and think that the motorist will see them and react in time

3) DON’T KNOW THE RULES

The last two seems to be very common. Drivers are not always 100% focussed on the road, and they can’t see everything. Many people shouldn’t even be allowed to drive. So accidents happen. On the other side, cyclists that are used to traffic and know how to behave is a joy to see. They rarely get into accidents, and city traffic on a bike isn’t even that dangerous if you are careful and respect the traffic rules.It helps if the city you are in has a good biking culture though, with good infrastructure.

As for all drivers out there; be careful! Cyclists are getting more and more common, and the “war” between them and drivers is getting tiresome to read about. If you see a cyclist in a bike lane, give him some space. Don’t park in bike lanes, and don’t pretend they have no right being there. It is silly,  selfish and result in all kind of arguing. I mean, there are even some cyclists that have gone as far as to attach a miniature camera  to the bike so they can tape the arguments and brutal behaviour of some drivers. Drivers are certainly not evil, but you too need to know the rules and how to behave around cyclists too.

Puh, that was a long diversion… But probably necessary.

So if you want to try a bike commute, and know the rules, what do you do then? Do you have to have an expensive bike and those silly florescence clothes? Well, no. Just hop on the god old bike you have in the garage. After checking the breaks of course. And that is why I love this trend. Everyone can do it. But some good equipment helps if you are making it a habit. A good bike, a comfortable helmet (I don’t care if it looks silly and ruins the hair, use it!), a water bottle and a good bag are all things that is worth spending money on. And there are huge amounts of blogs, networks, organisations and such available on the internet. Check it out and start gathering zero emission kilometres/miles!

By the way, you know the drill; visit us at facebook, and twitter, and feel free to ask questions or give us feedback on the blog, the website or the program itself!

I’m off

Fredrik

Hi

You know, I realised something today when i was looking through the blog. I have written much about habits, attitudes and different modes of transportation, but only mentioned ridesharing/carpooling. Silly of me… so here goes;

Picture this; you live in the suburbs, and bicycle and walking is out of the question as work is to far away or there are no roads were you can walk/cycle. The bus MIGHT be an option, but it is only scheduled for once an hour. So driving is the only option, and buying a new smaller car is to expensive. So how to green the commute? There is always a big chance that a neighbour commute in the same direction, right? After all, when you live in the suburb you usually work closer to the town centre, or in some big industry complex. There are probably more then one neighbour that work at the same company, or in a close location. So why not share a ride?

First of all, being social is not a bad thing. You get to know people and who knows; you might even have more in common then you thought. The commute becomes more bearable, and you will probably save some  money as you can take tours on whose car you use. AND you save CO2. If you are four persons in the car, and it emit 120 g CO2/km, you can divide that by four. 30 g/km is a lot less, right?

The downside is that you lose the freedom to just hop in and drive home whenever you want. If you work at different companies, or have slightly different work hours, it might be a problem. But I know people who do it, and it works well for them. It just take some planing.

Not all ridesharing have to be done with family members or neighbours. There are a lot of different ride-share initiatives going on all around the world. From the Swedish Skjutsgruppen to RideAlong in India to Carpoolworld… Easy to find with a simple Google search. Even Slugging may be an option, even if I find that one a bit… fishy. Be careful if you take THAT option…

OK, that was ride-sharing. What about carpools? Say that the mass transit IS an option, and you live closer to the centre of the city. Do you really need to OWN a car? Do you HAVE to use it every day? In Gothenburg and some other cities, carpools have become more common. You pay a monthly fee and can book a car for whenever you need it. After all, most car journeys are under five kilometres. If you don’t own the car and make it more inconvenient you plan more and use other modes of transport.

So you see, you can be green and still drive. Cars and their drivers aren’t evil, it is part of the culture. The last part need to change though, and this might be a good stepping stone. I might add that you should use eco-driving though. Makes the fuel consumption lower and save money and CO2.

That’s it for today. Have a nice weekend and Commute Greener!

I’m off

Fredrik

Hi!

You know, the big environmental conferences have other focuses then just the climate. Sure, CO2, climate change (I still refuse to use the term Global Warming) oil, fossil fuels etc are at the top of the agenda. But biodiversity is getting its share of spotlight too. And this is kind of important, even if many people don’t make the connection. Climate change is a threat to the biodiversity of our world, but so is our land use and exploiting of nature.

Corporations often get a lot of flack for not caring about the environment. But many do. They would be stupid otherwise. And they’re not stupid; if they were they wouldn’t be in business. There are many companies that don’t care though. It is sad, but expected.

What surprised me is that many companies also care about biodiversity, ie the diversity of species. It might be because there are many new products to be developed because of said diversity. And because having a green profile give new business opportunities. But the number of companies that care is what is most surprising. A (not so) new McKinsey Global Survey shows that more than 55 % of the respondents say that biodiversity should be in the top ten important items on the corporate agenda. And more then half of the respondents is doing something for biodiversity. Over all it  is still a down prioritised issue, well under climate change and human rights.

I find this interesting. It is easy to get sceptical about corporate environmental responsibility, and you should always be. Greenwashing is a problem after all, and it seems like the oil-industry still don’t want to join in the effort of reducing CO2. At least in USA. And the sceptism is a good thing as it keeps the guys in suits on their toes.

In many countries there are rules that require environmental protection and responsibility from companies, so it is good that an eco friendly attitude pays of. I mean otherwise they would only have the whip, but no carrot. Now they can munch on new opportunities while striking a blow for the environment.

And as for biodiversity, it is an important issue. Look at what modern farming has made with our crops. Pesticides are used because the crops have no other means to defend themselves, and if a parasite survives it can ruin whole crops. And if one key species get wiped out, the whole ecosystem will be affected.

Corporations should show their environmental actions more openly. That would be good PR, if nothing else, as well as giving the employees something to be proud of. Look at Volvo, with all its environmental projects. Putting the environment on the agenda is one thing, but as long as people feel that they stand against an industry that doesn’t care or actively work against action, and governments that only talk, why should they feel the need to change. And it is a hint to the politicians, something that is always welcome. Of course, this is my opinions. But I do think that communication is very important in these issues, and both the industry and the scientific community need to get better at that!

Well, that’s it for today. Take a look at our other media pages, like facebook and twitter. And don’t forget youtube.

I’m off

Fredrik

Hi!

You know, health is something one should talk about more often when addressing environmental problems. Everyone isn’t like the sporty boys/girls that exercise and are active 24/7. And it is just so easy to visualise, after all, when you can’t see your toes any more, you have a problem. But if you can’t, you probably drive more, as you are out of shape. Carbon Dioxide and climate change, were the effects take years to see and happens on the other side of the world is a bit harder to see.

One of our readers passed us a link on the topic of obesity and environmental problems. It is quite sad reading, but something that shows some major problems of today. Sure, the blog post IS aimed at the USA, but we are guilty in Europe to, and the rest of the world as well. The main points are:

1) We are getting fatter. This is true in north America as well as the rest of the world.

2) We rely more and more on our cars for transportation

3) As we get fatter, bigger cars become more popular, not as a status symbol but because they are spacier.

4) Big cars have generally a higher fuel consumption, and with more driving and heavier cars + loads; do the math. The answer is CO2 emissions on the rise, as well as weight problems with all the following complications.

This raises an interesting question in my opinion. Is it possible to use health campaigns to stave off global warming? Probably not, who like it when someone tells you that you are fat and need to diet. Health campaigns are a good thing, very good actually, but I don’t think they have that good reach.

But still, if we could get people to drive less, some major health problems could be dampened. So in other words, join a bike challenge, or challenge your family, friends and co-workers. 30 minutes of bicycling to work is not much time but in the long run you get so much healthier. And by teaching your children to take the bike you keep them in shape and create healthy habits.

But we all know that getting a motorist to take the bike, or ride the bus can be difficult. And then we are back to challenges and creative thinking. Or “bribes” and rewards. Whatever does the job.

Even taking the mass transit can have positive health effects, as a ten minute walk to the bus stop is much better then driving from door to door. So try it out.

And while you do, take some pictures and send to us, or upload them on our facebookpage. And be sure to follow us on twitter as well. And remember to Commute Greener!

/

Fredrik

Hi!

I saw something in Gothenburgs morning newspaper this morning that made me laugh. Well, I usually get a laugh or two out of the morning newspaper, but this was a bit unexpected. In order to make tram commuting more interesting, the city plan to have people tell local stories related to the next stop through the intercom… Well, recordings, not live people… Sounds silly, right?

The stories or anecdotes have been sent in by people from Gothenburg, and ranges from funny stories to heavier stuff. An example from the paper (GP link in Swedish) was a woman who told us about her conflicted relation with the stop at Sahlgrenska, a big hospital. Apparently, some of the stories are old anecdotes and memories about Gothenburg in the past, other stories will be funny one-liners, tips about interesting local spots and so on.

This wacky project is a part in the work to reduce segregation and get people to talk to each others. This is a very segregated city after all, and people from different parts usually don’t meet, even if they travel through the whole city to get to work…

And it may make it more interesting to go by tram through the city. You get to know more of it that way, and you get to know the people. I am sure it would start lots of discussions, which is always a good thing. Swedes are experts at ignoring each others after all.

I wonder if this could be a fun thing for other cities as well. If I went to London or Berlin, I would love to hear more about the city. And for that matter, in New York or Stockholm. If the messages are randomised, you would always learn something new.

I’m not sure if I think this is a good or bad thing, or even if it would become annoying after a while, but it is interesting.

Well, today’s is just a short one.

I’m off

Fredrik

Hi guys!

You know, we are quite focussed on environmental factors here at Commute Greener!. Or at least I am. I tend to block out other (not so) small factors like health and money. Yes, I am an environmental nerd:-). I guess it is my interest in science that does it. But lately, we have been discussing health benefits more and more at the office. This has always been a focus of Commute Greener!, but CO2 measurements and reductions has had a higher priority… But the health benefits really adds up! A short example: a 30 minutes bike commute equals 60 minutes exercise (to and from work). Do this some times per week and you have a good amount of exercise, probably loose weight and gain a lot of stamina, without going to the gym.

I found this blog through the bike commute tips blogs facebook page. Well worth a read. Apparently, the states in USA with highest obesity factor have the least zero emission commuters, and vise versa. Now, a blog post is not scientific data, and should always be taken with a grain of salt. But that post is based on the yearly Gallup health survey, and it paint a grim picture. People are getting heavier, and exercise less. Heart problem and high cholesterol are running rampart. Not exactly a good development. I won’t say anything about Europe or the rest of the world as I don’t have the corresponding numbers, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the trend is somewhat the same. And I mean, look at this:

Something has to be done. This epidemic is related to travel and eating habits. These factors are not the only one of course, but they are the most obvious.  Loads of sugar and fat, hamburgers, fries, soft drinks, you name it. Add poor exercise habits to that, and a habit of driving everywhere, and you get this situation. The whole western world need to change attitude. I know, I sound like a broken gramophone now. Somehow, this get into every entry. But it is true. As stated above, taking the bike to work, or walk, is good for you. Even public transportation is better for the health then driving as the walk to the station adds up. This is a factor that is just as important as carbon emissions when talking about a greener commute.

And it is possible to change habits to a healthier commute. We can take an example from the real world. As I have written some weeks back, the city of Gothenburg have used Commute Greener!. On the departments that have done best, the amount of zero emission kilometres are high. Together the departments (or teams) have saved over a ton of CO2, and collected enough zero emission kilometres as a trip to Shanghai… And this in only ten weeks. A very good job indeed.

Well, that’s it for today. Give us a like at facebook, and follow us on twitter for news, interesting articles and comments on environmental issues.

I’m off

Fredrik