background image

Get Motivated

Home, Travel and Food: together they make up more than 60% of the average UK resident's carbon footprint. Here you'll find the latest news, research and ideas to help you cut their impact.

Alternative ways to workPrint

Fewer than 10 per cent of us travel more than 30km to the workplace and around half of us drive to work.

Fewer than 10 per cent of us travel more than 30km to the workplace [1] and around half of us drive to work [2]   So what alternatives do we have if we want to cut emissions and save money at the same time?

Burn calories not fossil fuels, by walking and cycling

Cycling and walking could be feasible alternatives. Not only can these help you shrink your carbon footprint and petrol bills, they could also get your heart pumping.

Pick up a bike in the capital

A free cycle-hire scheme launched in London in July 2010.  After a recent expansion scheme there are now 8,000 bikes available from 14,400 docking points across central and east London [3] .  The access fee for annual members works out at just 12p per day. There's a usage fee too, based on how long you use a cycle for, but the good news for commuters is that the first 30 minutes of each journey are free [4] . 

Travelling by electric trains, trams and buses can be as much as 10 times more energy-efficient than travel by car. And high-speed trains, despite going twice as fast as cars, can be as much as 27 times more energy-efficient [5] .

Share the cost of driving
 
If you have to drive, why not share your car with colleagues, family and friends?

Alternatively, sign up to a car share scheme on the internet that matches people who make similar journeys. Sharing the cost of fuel and parking is an easy way to save money.

Or opt for electric instead of a fossil-fuel car

Models like the Tesla Roadster can tear to 60 miles per hour (mph) in less than four seconds.

Every BIG helps

  • According to Act On CO2, sticking to the motorway speed limit not only reduces carbon emissions, but can save you around 10% off your fuel bill (compared to driving at 80mph) [6]
  • Act On CO2 also reports that almost 25% of all car trips are shorter than two miles. In many cases this distance could be cycled in under 15 minutes [7]
  • A tube train, at peak time can be 18 times more energy efficient than an individual car. [8]


More ways to… drive greener [9]

  • Under-inflated tyres can increase your fuel consumption by up to 3%
  • Driving smoothly reduces fuel consumption, so avoid harsh acceleration and braking
  • Switching off your engine while you're stationary for long periods helps save on fuel and emissions

Sources

[1] Only 8.3% of commuters travel more than 30 km to their workplace.
Information Source: Sustainable Energy by D.J.C. Mackay (2009)

[2] Roughly half of the British population drive to work. The total amount of car travel in the UK is 686 billion passenger-km per year, which corresponds to an "average distance travelled by car per British person" of 30 km per day
Information Source: Sustainable Energy by D.J.C. Mackay (2009)  (See footnote)
 
[3] Once the expansion of the scheme is complete, around 8,000 hire bikes will be available from 14,400 docking points across central and east London
Information Source: Transport for London, Bike Hire Success Prompts Expansion

[4] The access fee for annual members works out at just 12p per day. There's a usage fee too, based on how long you use a cycle for, but the good news for commuters is that the first 30 minutes of each journey are free
Information Source: Transport for London, Cycle Hire Scheme (See usage charges chart)

[5] Travelling by electric trains, trams and buses can be as much as 10 times more energy-efficient than travel by car. And high-speed trains, despite going twice as fast as cars, can be as much as 27 times more energy-efficient... A tube train, at peak time can be 18 times more energy efficient than an individual car.
Information Source: Sustainable Energy by D.J.C. Mackay (2009)  

[6] Driving above the speed limit is illegal, but also means you use more fuel, and emit more CO2. Staying within the 70mph speed limit on motorways can bring savings of around 10% for your fuel bill compared to driving at 80mph.
Information Source: ACT ON CO2, Drive At An Appropriate Speed
 
[7] Nearly a quarter of all car trips are under two miles, a distance that can be cycled in under 15 minutes
Information Source: Act on CO2, Why Cycle?

[8] More ways to drive greener
Information source: Direct.gov, Driving your car: green tips 

Team Green Britain and London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd (LOCOG) do not endorse any of the products, companies, organisations, opinions or websites that have been mentioned in this article. The content of this article has merely been provided as background to, or discussion on, various topical issues relating to the environment and it is not necessarily representative of the views of Team Green Britain and LOCOG. Further, any figures and calculations noted in this article are estimates (unless otherwise specified), and may vary in light of numerous factors and readers are advised to undertake their own research in relation to the facts and figures applicable to their particular circumstance. Certain facts and figures shown have been sourced from third parties. Team Green Britain has not verified information sourced from third parties and Team Green Britain cannot take responsibility for the accuracy of these facts and figures.

A growing community

Here's how Team Green Britain has grown since our launch in 2009

Articles