In multi-car households, use the more energy efficient vehicle to commute.
Welcome to Week 8 of 50 Ways to Reduce Your Waste Line. Last week we talked about turning off lights when you leave the office. This week, we invite you to take a critical look at the vehicles your household utilizes and choose the more energy efficient vehicle to commute the farther distance.
One Thing You Can Do:
If you are part of a multi-car household, the driver who has the longer trip can take the more efficient vehicle to reduce emissions. Natural Resources Canada has a great list of the most fuel efficient vehicles which can help you make this distinction; in general, the smaller the vehicle, the more efficient it will be. Driving the more efficient car the longer distance will help reduce your family’s carbon emissions and reduce pollution.
Additional Information:
If you are in the market for a new vehicle, consider purchasing an electric car; there are lots of options available now at various price points. Electric cars are a great alternative to conventional gas cars as they have very low carbon emissions, do not require gasoline (think about the savings at the pump in addition to reducing the environmental impact of extracting and processing oil) and require much less maintenance than gasoline power cars. Below are some “Fast Facts” on Canadian electric cars from PLUG ‘N Drive:
- There are more than 28,000 electric cars on the road in Canada
- Provincial incentives in British Colombia, Ontario, and Quebec can save you up to $14,000 off your vehicle purchase and $1,000 off your home charging station
- Driving an electric car can save you between $1,500-$2,000 per year on fuel and maintenance
- Canada’s electricity is clean with the majority of our power coming from hydro and nuclear
- Driving an electric car can reduce your vehicle’s emissions by as much as 90%
- Canada has more than 4,500 public charging stations, 150 of which are Level 3 fast chargers
- There are 23 models available for sale in Canada with more on the way
You can help reduce vehicle pollution by using your household’s more energy efficient vehicle for your daily trek to work!
