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Cutting Transportation Emissions

Why should I think about my transportation choices?
Greenhouse gases from Transportation now make up 49% of our community carbon footprint, and between 2010 and 2015 emissions in this sector rose by 5%. You may have heard that the number of electric vehicles (EVs) and charging stations is increasing in Waterloo Region – and that is true! EVs are becoming much more affordable to the general public, with up to $14,000 in rebates available for EV purchases. But despite the growth in Electric Vehicles in our community, our transportation choices are still having a big greenhouse gas impact.   Although vehicle fuel efficiency is improving thanks to new technologies and federal fuel efficiency standards, there is still much that we can do as consumers. By reducing our personal carbon footprint you can help our community reach our goal of 6% emission reductions by 2020. Luckily, there are many options to choose from to make a positive difference.

What can I do to reduce my vehicle emissions?
Over time, small changes in your daily commute can have an amazing effect on your total emissions.

1. Pull the bike out of the shed: June is Bike Month in Waterloo Region, so why not take your bike out for a spin as a part of your daily commute.  If you don’t have a bike, check out Community Access BikeShare to see if a membership makes sense for you. Trips under 5km are perfect for cycling!
2. Use public transit: Try taking the city bus to work or school one day a week. Next year, you’ll be able to try out the new ION LRT system. Why not get in the habit of using public transit now?
3. Carpool: Does anyone share your daily commute route? Check out gotravelwise.ca to find out. It’s the perfect way to make friends while reducing gas emissions. Go a step further and encourage your employer to become a TravelWise member to receive special discounts and tools!
4. Clear the driveway: reduce your household costs by giving up a personal vehicle and try out Community CarShare to help your transition.
5. Go electric: Electric Vehicles are now more affordable and serviced by over 42 public charging heads in our community.  You can snatch up a new EV from $28,000 and most EVs have $14,000 in rebates available.

For more options or information about how you can curb the carbon footprint of our transportation choices, read Our Progress, Our Path.