Frog Blog

Travel and Work

The Frog will explore The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions by Heidi Roop in the first 100 days of 2024

In 2015 I went to a seminar on how the climate was changing in Minnesota. The presenter was data-driven and factual, expertly weaving reams of collected data into a compelling tapestry illustrating how climate change was impacting the region. During the Q&A, someone in the audience stood up and asked the speaker whether climate change would be solved instantly if all the humans on the planet were suddenly removed through some means. Astounded, and acknowledging how the notion was “technically true”, the speaker pivoted to some solutions that could implemented while accounting for the continued existence of humanity. It was well done and oddly the questioner seemed satisfied with the answer.

Short of invoking a Thanos decision, another way to reduce emissions, it seems, is to send everyone home from work to quarantine from a global pandemic. According to the IMF, “emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases plunged 4.6 percent in 2020, as lockdowns in the first half of the year restricted global mobility and hampered economic activity”. It was short lived, however, and a return to a new normal post-pandemic sees emissions dramatically on the rise again, especially in the manufacturing and energy sectors.

Clearly, quarantining the human race at home is not a viable approach, and I think we gladly accept the rise of a new normal in how we live and work that comes with with the widespread use of vaccines. As we have discussed, the pandemic has caused a profound shift in how a significant number of us are going to work, and the impact on climate change is highlighted in the data showing that the recovery of emissions to pre-pandemic levels has been slower for the transportation sector and households. The root cause is our decision on where we work and how we get there.

I was in my hometown of Washington, D.C. several weeks ago and asked some locals about the current state of traffic in the area. [Having learned to drive in the traffic hell in and around the Capitol Beltway, I find it amusing here on the east side of St. Paul, MN when people complain about traffic]. The general consensus was that car traffic going into the Nation’s Capitol was up to about 80% or so of the level pre-pandemic, but they felt it was at the expense of lower ridership on public transportation including the DC Metro.

The amateur psychologists in the group offered the explanation that while there were overall fewer workers commuting to offices, commuters who previously chose public transportation to avoid sitting in traffic have returned to their cars. This was supported with data from The Washington Post that showed the increase in commuting in cars (from cellphone data) and the slow recovery of ridership on the public transportation since the new normal being established post-pandemic.

The evolution of our new work habits is continuing and there is an impact on traffic patterns. Given the greater acceptance of remote work and flexible schedules, the pre-pandemic traffic peaks in the morning and afternoon have been flattened as drivers leave for their offices at different times, which tends to reduce gridlock, but extend the hours of traffic congestion.

With all of this complexity, and with more people, more cars, lower fuel economy and other factors, we are still not addressing emissions from the transportation sector are expected to continue to grow.

We know that some workers have more freedom and increasingly choose to telecommute as companies adapt. Heidi cites statistics from the University of Chicago that shows that four years after the start of the pandemic, now 37% of US jobs can be conducted fully remotely, up from 20% reported in 2019. Along with these changes in work habits, there has been a big change in business-related travel as more remote options are implemented, as we have discussed.

“Telepresence integrates visual, audio, and network technologies, so people can interact across geographies. It cuts down and travel – especially flying – and its emissions”

Heidi Roop

The lesson from the height of the pandemic is stark: when we all stayed home, the air was less polluted and there was a precipitous drop in greenhouse gas emissions. But clearly this is not a solution that we can live with. It is likely that if you telecommute, all things being equal, the result is lower emissions. This is a good thing overall, but we must take care to avoid amplifying existing inequities in the job market because having the easy ability to telecommute may be more accessible to higher income workers and those with higher education attainment. Despite the changes, it remains true that the majority of work situations are not amenable to remote work.

As you consider your own situation, it is likely true that the more people that can work together effectively without having to travel to one place to do it, the lower the emissions. We should all make the most effective decisions for our own careers and support others to do the same. And in the spirit of “not letting a good crisis go to waste”, advocate for the evolution of “climate friendly policies across our transportation systems, and expanded climate commitments from corporations”, while we are at it.

Next Up: Climate Action in 2024 – Day 23: Seek Out Climate Solutions in the Workplace

Back to 100 Climate Solutions

Howard Creel

#rescuethatfrog
Email: rescuethatfrog@gmail.com

Travel and Work

The Frog will explore The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions by Heidi Roop in the first 100 days of 2024

If someone tries to convince you that you are the cause of climate change, know this: since 1988 more half of global emissions came from 25 corporations and state-owned organizations. And if you think that investing in fossil fuels is becoming less popular, it is not true: banks have provided an investment of more than $3.8 trillion to the fossil fuel industry since 20`15.

There is, however, a growing movement to not only cut off the flow of funds to the these polluters, but to redirect funds to the growth of a clean energy economy. The Go Fossil Free campaign is targeting and pressuring universities and endowments to divest fossil fuel stocks, bonds, and other investments. And it is working, as with this effort and others, over 1500 institutional investors are actively working to strip fossil fuel companies of investment. There is also a drive to ensure that those assets are redirected to organizations focused on clean energy.

“The fossil fuel divestment campaign has gained momentum and is credited with changing the narrative around climate change”

Heidi Roop

You can pledge to support the Go Fossil Free effort by signing a pledge that reads:

By signing below, I pledge I will stand for a Fossil Free world, and call on communities, governments and institutions – local and international – to stand with me. Together we must: >Ban all new coal, oil and gas projects, and begin phasing out those that are already built. >Divest from and defund fossil fuel projects. Not a penny more should go to fossil fuels. >Commit to a rapid, just transition towards 100% renewable energy for all. The age of fossil fuels is over. We are ready to create the change.

I also encourage you to become active with 350.org as they work to build a powerful climate movement. Founded by Bill McKibben, author of powerful climate books including Fight Global Warming Now: The Handbook for Taking Action in Your Community, the 350 in the name is to remind us that 350 ppm is the safe concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (it is 423 ppm as of yesterday).

While making your voice heard, become more savvy on how your own money is invested. Heidi encourages us to “be fluent in the financials of climate change”. Many people take a hands-off approach and trust their company or financial advisor on how the contributions to their 401K are invested. You may find that the investments made on your behalf are not aligned with your values, and it may take work and patience to convert funds and stocks to others that have a climate impact.

The good news is that The Global Fossil Fuel Divestment Commitments reports that over $40 trillion of investments are held by institutions that have pledged to divest. The site is a good place to convince yourself that institutions you trust are taking action. This is another relatively simple individual action we must take. Otherwise:

Next Up: Climate Action in 2024 – Day 22: Telecommute When Possible

Back to 100 Climate Solutions

Howard Creel

#rescuethatfrog
Email: rescuethatfrog@gmail.com

Travel and Work

The Frog will explore The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions by Heidi Roop in the first 100 days of 2024

In his book Project Hail Mary, Andy Weir conjures a rapidly advancing threat to the existence of life on planet earth, not unlike what we are facing now. In this fictional account, scientists convince global leadership of the immediacy of the threat and develop a monumental and desperate “Hail Mary pass” of a plan. The economic resources of all nations on the planet are marshalled and focused on executing the plan and saving humanity. Then the story begins…

In the book, executing the plan is accomplished through the sheer force of will of a few individuals who are given immense powers to suspend the normal economic order of private ownership, profit, and growth for the good of all. Given the state of the real world, it is lovely to daydream about this fictional solution. But, in the here and now, despite the fact that A. we know there is a problem, B. we know that the consequences of inaction are dire, and C. we know what we need to do to survive, apparently on this planet taking the drastic action to save humanity must be done while also conserving the economic status quo.

What we are talking about is financing the global effort to mitigate the effects of future climate change and adapt to the changes already underway. The investment from governments, the private sector, corporate investors, and individuals is currently inadequate to address the climate goals that have been agreed to. Many corporations are beginning to recognize the value of making investments in climate technology. Many governments, such as the US (for now), are making public funding available for companies, universities, and start-ups to research, develop, and deploy needed technology and infrastructure.

However, recently “more money globally was spent on fossil fuels than on investments in renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure”. And we are increasingly called on to urgently address the clean-up after climate change amplified disasters that are made even worse by neglected infrastructure in need of investment.

In 2020, climate financing of all forms was $632 billion. At-scale financing and investment from governments, global organizations, corporations, investment groups and banks are required to make rapidly make progress. But it is not enough: some experts put the annual climate investment gap at over $3.5 trillion dollars worldwide.

While we work for needed global change, individuals can contribute significantly through spending decisions on climate critical technology like EVs, solar panels, battery storage, heat pumps, and solar water heaters. Using our dollars to drive investment and innovation is a way to influence a massive and complex global economic system comprised of companies trying to maximize shareholder value.

“As with many actions in this book, when we are able to, it’s essential to put our money where our climate values are”

Heidi Roop

More importantly, becoming a savvy and active investor is a more direct route to funding the change we want to see. In 2019, over 85% of individual investors expressed interest in sustainable investment opportunities; when you focus on individual demographics, over 95% of millennials would actively seek to invest in sustainability. The issue is the disinterested, unmotivated financial markets and the slow pace at which they are making the investment products available.

Unlike private equity firms and other “big investors funded by Wall Street [that] buy up homes that could have gone to first-time homebuyers, then jack up rent, neglect repairs, and threaten families with eviction”. Please write in support of recently introduced federal legislation that seeks to curtail this on-going financial catastrophe.

If governments and corporations are not going to act fast enough, we must. The most accessible action is to support climate mitigation and decarbonization through your purchase of an EV, solar panels, or investing in community solar gardens. If you are able, research and become an expert in socially responsible investing strategies and make your financial choices deliberately in alignment with your values.

And as always, speak up! Voices and votes, people.

Next Up: Climate Action in 2024 – Day 21: Divest and Reinvest

Back to 100 Climate Solutions

Howard Creel

#rescuethatfrog
Email: rescuethatfrog@gmail.com

Travel and Work

The Frog will explore The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions by Heidi Roop in the first 100 days of 2024

In March 2020 we were all sent home from work into quarantine, confusion, anxiety and a massive change in how we did business. Since then, for administrative roles, remote work is becoming the norm. The ultimate impact on how offices are maintained and the future of commercial real estate has yet to be realized. We are in the midst of a great evolution of how we go to work with an as yet to be determined impact on climate change mitigation.

The prevalence and format of large business meetings, trade shows, symposia, and conferences are evolving as well. I used to attend and participate in trade shows and scientific conferences routinely before the pandemic. Then I felt no uneasiness about being in the presence of 1000s of attendees. And I never reflected on the climate cost of the emissions from the airline travel to and the hotel stays during the events. Heidi cites estimates that a large meeting with attendees from dozens of countries can result in upwards of 15,000 metric tons of carbon emissions.

In October 2022 I attended my first in-person conference since the pandemic. It was weird and uncomfortable. We all were not used to being with other people and comfortably chatting like we used to. Today, with higher vaccination rates and lower prevalence of Covid, attendance at large events is increasing – for instance the attendance at the recent CES2024 show was over 135,000 of which over 40% came from 150 countries, regions and territories.

Note: The “good news” announced on the first day of the show was the Consumer Technology Circularity Initiative “a groundbreaking and voluntary industry initiative to reduce waste, encourage more reuse, enhance recycling, reduce climate impact, and see less disposal of consumer electronics”, so at least we have that little bit of greenwashing going for us.

I have participated in remote, hybrid, and in-person meetings. My current opinion is that in-person meetings are the most productive in that they encourage more natural and engaging human interactions. A recent study from Yale suggests that virtual meetings are less engaging than in-person meetings, as measured by activity in brain areas associated with facial processing and social interaction.

“The pandemic accelerated a transition toward less travel and a wider adoption of virtual meetings and more hybrid options for conferences”

Heidi Roop

The issue is far from settled and every group that has a reason to meet and interact is finding their own way. For meetings at our company headquarters, for instance, the definite trend is away from hybrid meetings, which are uniformly viewed as awkward and unproductive. There is an emerging preference that any given meeting or seminar be either entirely in person or entirely online.

We have also made a complete transition in the way we host seminars from professors and scientists. Previously, we would pay professors and scientists to visit our facility to give a talk in person. Since the pandemic we pivoted away from that format and have grown to appreciate and prefer fully remote seminars where they are engaged through a moderated and lively chat during the talk. It is also much easier to share relevant information during the seminar and have the speaker answer online questions if time runs short. I believe that this mode will remain the norm for one presenter talking to a group moving forward. If we keep doing it, it will represent a measurable reduction for our company in the climate impact on this kind of information exchange – a net positive result from the pandemic.

The message of this chapter is unclear. Consider that the “COP28 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, was the biggest of its kind. Some 85,000 participants, including more than 150 Heads of State and Government, were among the representatives of national delegations, civil society, business, Indigenous Peoples, youth, philanthropy, and international organizations in attendance at the Conference from 30 November to 13 December 2023.” The climate denial and disinformation apparatus will likely note the hypocrisy of the carbon emissions generated by such a large, in-person meeting. Others will argue that it is only by convening in-person that we can effectively make progress.

Now consider the transatlantic voyages of Greta Thunberg on sail boats. As an activist Greta found it difficult to rationalize air travel so she started traveling in austere conditions to important events to minimize her carbon footprint for travel. She was invited to a speak at two events in 2019, the UN Climate Action Action Summit in New York and COP25 in Chile. She sailed from Plymouth, UK to New York in August of 2019 and was greeted by hundreds of supporters when she arrived (when asked what she would tell then President Trump she offered “Listen to the science, he obviously doesn’t do that”). When the COP25 meeting was moved to Spain, she sailed there from the US to deliver a speech critical of pace of global progress on addressing climate change.

I offer these anecdotes because it highlights the challenges inherent in gathering humans from all over the world to meet together. What would motivate you to fly to a meeting? Discussing global cooperation on fighting climate change? How about seeing all the cool new consumer electronics? Is the event worth the emissions from all the planes and hotel stays? Can nuanced discussions and negotiations about the fate of the planet be done remotely, given the emerging evidence regarding the relative ineffectiveness of large-group online interactions? Would you personally consider more time consuming and difficult travel options that have a lower emissions impact (remember the Tragedy of the Commons)?

The strong message here is not evident. The change in how we meet since the pandemic is underway but the eventual outcome and the new normal is unclear. In keeping with her overall message, Heidi encourages moderation, thoughtful consideration, and choosing any and all approaches that minimize emissions. The individual choice is left to you.

Next Up: Climate Action in 2024 – Day 20: Learn About Climate Financing

Back to 100 Climate Solutions

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Howard Creel

#rescuethatfrog
Email: rescuethatfrog@gmail.com

Travel and Work

The Frog will explore The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions by Heidi Roop in the first 100 days of 2024

I recently stayed in a Hyatt Hotel and noticed a new feature in the bathroom. Instead of tidy line of little plastic bottles containing shampoo, conditioner, and hand lotion, there were larger pump bottles of these personal care products mounted on the wall. This is a positive change that addresses a critical aspect of the hospitality industry.

For years I was comfortable with leaving little plastic bottles and barely used cakes of soap behind as I checked out. Turns out, we do that a lot. Marriot International tackled the unsustainable practice of an estimated 500 million plastic items which represented a 30% reduction in their annual plastic waste generation.

We also bear responsibility for taking action. Heidi points to a study that suggests that when we travel, we produce twice the amount of trash as travelers compared to local residents. I think this seems to be consistent with my experience in business travel, where I tend to be more comfortable with consuming items that generate waste that I would otherwise try and minimize in my daily life, like to-go cups, plastic water bottles, and disposable utensils.

“The main point is to be conscious of your consumption and any waste your are creating”

Heidi Roop

Heidi suggest making a “trash travel log” on your next trip and includes some suggestions as a checklist:

• Carry a refillable water bottle and coffee container
• Bring your own toiletries
• Find and use recycling bins
• Avoid single-use items
• Walk or take public transportation
• Turn down the AC
• Hand-wash and air-dry clothing
• Staying at a homeshare, consider cooking
• Hang up, dry, and reuse towels.

With a little research you can find those hotel chains that align with the environment values you hold and by choosing to spend your travel dollars with them (and letting others know about your choice) we can signal the whole industry to make the needed changes. And with a little planning and awareness, you can minimize your own impact while you are on the road.

Next Up: Climate Action in 2024 – Day 19: Find Alternatives to Work Related Travel

Back to 100 Climate Solutions

Howard Creel

#rescuethatfrog
Email: rescuethatfrog@gmail.com

Travel and Work

The Frog will explore The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions by Heidi Roop in the first 100 days of 2024

I used to travel often for my job. I remember having a conversation with a colleague on a trip who confessed that they enjoyed traveling and staying in hotels because they were able to blast the air-conditioner in the room to suit their preference – at home they had to compromise with their partner, and it was never quite cold enough.

When reading this chapter, it occurred to me that they clearly had not considered the environmental impact of that choice. Multiply that by all guests in all the hotel and motel rooms and you can grasp the magnitude of the climate challenges for the hospitality industry. Tourism-related accommodations account for 1% of total global greenhouse gas emissions, and it is a difficult sector to decarbonize.

Heidi cites research from the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance that highlights that hotels will have to achieve a 90% reduction in emissions per room to have an impact on mitigating global warming. They have established methodology to create baseline for current emissions and a detailed approach for hotel owners to take in order to reduce their impact.

Note: studies show that home shares (like Airbnb) have a similar impact on the environment as hotels and motels.

Properties should be able to identify what they have done to improve energy efficiency and water conservation, sourcing local foods, products and services, reducing waste, and using “eco-friendly” cleaning products. Larger hotel chains usually highlight their corporate practices and progress, such as in Hilton’s Environmental, Social and Governance Report. Properties can seek certifications that they can use to highlight their practices, such as Green Key and Green Globe.

As always, be alert for greenwashing…

As a consumer, your real power to make an impact on this challenging issue is to research and choose properties that have climate related goals, that are actively taking action, and that can document that they are making positive progress. This will help you “reduce the climate impact of your adventures” and will send a signal to the industry that it is important to address their climate impact.

Next Up: Climate Action in 2024 – Day 18: Reduce Trash When You Travel

Back to 100 Climate Solutions

Howard Creel

#rescuethatfrog
Email: rescuethatfrog@gmail.com

Travel and Work

The Frog will explore The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions by Heidi Roop in the first 100 days of 2024

If we want to address climate change, we are going to have to change. The change is going to have to include the things we like to do, and this includes tourism. Tourism is an important driver of local economies, but it comes at a heavy cost to the environment. It is estimated that 8% of global GHG emissions are connected with tourism and the bulk of that is from transportation. And global tourism is expected to grow, especially as new wealth drives more people to travel.

I hope to get permission to use the graphic on the various modes of travel from Heidi’s book, and when I do, I will update this. We have choices on what we do and where we go, and conscientious travelers will plan their trips and make transportation choices that limit their emissions. It is important to make the connection between our transportation choices and emissions if we want to make an impact on climate change.

One of the easiest first steps is to simply replace a trip that involves a domestic flight, which typically results in the greatest emissions. Camping at close-by state or national parks, family car trips with fuel efficient vehicles or EVs, Amtrak or bus trips all are lower emission alternatives. The good news is that long-haul (overseas) trips are typically more efficient with lower emissions, so travel to countries with efficient public transportation, especially high-speed rail (sadly lacking in the US) can be low-emission adventures.

In providing this insight, Heidi would like us to equip ourselves with an in-depth understanding of these alternatives and hopes to “encourage critical thought about the best path to that next beach vacation, cruise, mountain getaway, or family reunion.”

Next Up: Climate Action in 2024 – Day 17: Seek Out Eco-Friendly Accommodations

Back to 100 Climate Solutions

Howard Creel

#rescuethatfrog
Email: rescuethatfrog@gmail.com

Travel and Work

The Frog will explore The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions by Heidi Roop in the first 100 days of 2024

We are moving on from our cars and considering how we travel longer distances. Due to the almost complete lack of reliable high-speed passenger rail service, the US relies on domestic airlines to move around the country. To get anywhere fast in this big country, we are forced by the US built infrastructure to fly on a plane. Globally, airplane travel represents a significant 3.5% of total greenhouse gas emissions, which may seem small, but they are growing – having doubled since the mid-1980s.

The issue with aviation is regional equity: “just 1 percent of the global population is responsible for 50 percent of the CO₂ emissions from commercial aviation”. And the US domestic market makes up 25% of all air passengers globally. It is part of our culture and mitigating the impact of the airline industry is a daunting task. If you choose not to fly, it is likely that plane will fly anyway with someone else in the seat. To be effective, your individual choice on how you fly must make an economic impact on airlines – it is a challenge without an evident global, systemic approach for resolution.

In the face of daunting systemic challenges, we usually default to a hope for a technological revolution that magically solves the problem. In the commercial aircraft industry, there is an essential tension between the US represented by Boeing and Europe represented by Airbus. The technology approach championed by Airbus is to develop hydrogen fueled planes. The US Department of Energy, on the other hand, is focused on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) “made from renewable biomass and waste resources have the potential to deliver the performance of petroleum-based jet fuel but with a fraction of its carbon footprint, giving airlines solid footing for decoupling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from flight.”

This approach is controversial and (in my opinion) borderline greenwashing; this notion of growing renewable biofuels to wrestle the aviation to slightly above carbon neutral. It entails developing the agriculture and chemical processing infrastructure to feed a fuel-hungry aviation industry. But in the interest of doing everything, we have to try, I guess. It rises to the level of Grand Challenge for the Department of Energy.

In considering the longer trips where we might consider flying (it is unlikely that I am going to take a plane to the local store for groceries), flying solo might actually have a lower carbon intensity (energy per person per distance traveled) than driving the same distance solo in a gasoline fueled car with typical fuel economy.

However, the more people in the car (and the better the fuel efficiency), the greater the impact on lowering emissions for the trip. One passenger with you and you roughly break even with flying. Put the whole family in the car (3 or more), drive to Grandma’s for Thanksgiving on highways at moderate speed, and you are definitely starting to make a difference! [Remember to take your most fuel efficient vehicle. In fact, put everyone in an EV and now you are getting somewhere!]

Life is complicated. We often have to travel for work. We want to fly to see friends, family and for a well-earned vacation. However, we are going to have to start making hard choices, and we will not be able to rely on future, as-yet-unrealized technology breakthroughs that will only reduce and not eliminate greenhouse gas pollution from planes.

One of the controversial ideas is to pack as many passengers per plane as possible, for instance, by eliminating premium classes (which have larger seats thus lowering passenger density). Short of that, for committed individuals who are already making changes, we will soon explore the impact of business and conference travel (Action 19) and remote work (Action 22).

This is a challenging action, because we can only make an impact at a system level, and we know the system (tragedy of the commons) is aligned so that a sacrifice by an individual potentially puts that individual at a disadvantage. However, as Heidi notes, “for those of us who fly, flying less is an important climate act”.

Next Up: Climate Action in 2024 – Day 16: Vacation Closer to Home

Back to 100 Climate Solutions

Howard Creel

#rescuethatfrog
Email: rescuethatfrog@gmail.com

Energy Production and Transportation

The Frog will explore The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions by Heidi Roop in the first 100 days of 2024

Way back when, I distinctly being told that it wastes more fuel to turn your car off and back on than it does to let it idle. Not sure when, but I have it in my head. Turns out, not so. If you are going to idle your car for more than 10 seconds, according to Heidi, you should go ahead and turn it off. According to the US Department of Energy, the idling of personal vehicles in the US adds 30 million tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere every year. Once again, numerous small, individual actions have a significant, cumulative impact.

In the past few chapters, Heidi has methodically worked through a series of suggestions to adjust how you drive your car as a recognition that we will continue to burn fossil fuels and emit carbon dioxide as we live our lives. We need to get around; we are busy; we need to go places. But we also have an urgent need to address climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The message? Deliberately taking certain, simple actions that eventually become habits can make a big difference.

It helps if you visualize the plume of invisible, odorless carbon dioxide pollution you create as you idle and drive as large balloons emerging from your tailpipe. I have found (and written about) that it is a powerful image that motivates action.

Next Up: Climate Action in 2024 – Day 15: Fly Less, Fly Economy

Back to 100 Climate Solutions

Howard Creel

#rescuethatfrog
Email: rescuethatfrog@gmail.com

Energy Production and Transportation

The Frog will explore The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions by Heidi Roop in the first 100 days of 2024

If you are going to hang onto your fossil fuel powered car, you are not alone – the percent of electric vehicles on the roads currently is a little over 1%. That means that we can make an impact, short of buying and EV, mainly by changing our driving habits. We have discussed ways to avoid driving and increasing the average number of passengers. Let’s explore the best ways to improve fuel efficiency of your current car. Heidi suggest five habits to adopt:

Reduce Your Road Rage – aggressive driving wastes gas. Especially in stop-and-go traffic – up to a 40% decrease in fuel efficiency. Breathe deep. Meditate. Go to your happy place. All for the sake of the climate!

Combine Small Errands Into One Big Trip

Lighten the Load – especially rooftop carriers, which can reduce fuel economy up to 25% at highway speeds

Dial Back the Climate Control – blasting the air conditioner in particular reduces your fuel efficiency

Slow Your Speed – 65 is the new 55: Making a small change like staying 65 mph as opposed 70 mph can mean a big fuel savings on a long trip

As we close out our focus on our driving habits, you can make an immediate positive impact on climate change by thoughtfully changing your driving habits. Walking and biking will have a positive impact on your mental and physical health, fuel savings translate to personal cost savings, and reduced emissions and few cars on the road means a better and safer environment for your community.

Next Up: Climate Action in 2024 – Day 14: Be Idle Free

Back to 100 Climate Solutions

Howard Creel

#rescuethatfrog
Email: rescuethatfrog@gmail.com