Earth Day is upon us and the theme for 2020 is “climate action.” In honor of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day this year, MCE is shining a light on one of the ways that MCE employees celebrate the earth all year long by taking actions to make their commutes more eco-friendly (when they are not under shelter-in-place orders).
According to the California Emission Inventory Data, transportation accounts for 41% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, making this sector the largest human contribution to GHG emissions.* As Californians shelter-in-place due to COVID-19, the state has seen a significant drop in GHG emissions.** Seeing the effect that our commutes have on pollution levels will hopefully prompt many of us to figure out ways to adjust our lifestyle choices long after the pandemic has passed. Shifting our commutes to mass transit, walking, biking, electric vehicles, and carpooling are all ways we can have a notable impact on reducing this carbon footprint.
We spoke with MCE employees Qua, Daniel, Noël, and Brett to learn how they have incorporated eco-friendly commutes into their lives.
Qua
When I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area three years ago, I wanted to change my commute from a dirty commute to a green commute. Today, my commute consists of biking and public transportation. Sustainable transportation is a way of doing my part in confronting environmental challenges. It helps improve air quality, save energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to name a few. I can’t forget to mention it helps out my wallet.
Daniel
I moved from Petaluma to San Rafael in September of 2019 so I could be closer to work. Now I commute to work by bicycle and my commute is entirely carbon-free! When I visit my parents in Petaluma on the weekends I can take my bike on the SMART train and completely avoid single passenger vehicle emissions.
Brett
I get to work by bike and public transportation, and specifically chose to live in South Berkeley so I could easily get to both MCE offices without a car. Yes, this sometimes takes more time than driving a car, but my commute allows me to read, catch up with friends, meet neighbors, get a daily cardio workout, and save about $9,000*** per year.
Noël
I walk to work every morning, even in the rain, which takes me about 50 minutes. I take a Marin Transit bus or the SMART train home at night, depending on when I leave the office. If I have to get to the Concord office, I will drive my wonderful, brand-new electric vehicle (EV), a Chevy Bolt. It’s awesome!
If you’re looking for ways to take climate action in honor of Earth Day, we hope this gave you some ideas on how you can make your commute more sustainable! Here are some resources for readers in our service area who are interested in learning more:
Contra Costa: 511contracosta.org
Marin: marincommutes.org/
Napa: vcommute.org/
Solano: www.solanomobility.org/
