Car pool, a no-brainer solution to pollution

A reader recently sent an e-mail suggesting a column on the benefits of carpooling. I thought it was a great idea, so I asked her and a few of my friends to share some of their thoughts about the pros and cons of carpooling. Their responses were illuminating and certainly worth sharing.

First of all, let’s be clear about what a car pool is. Dictionary.com reports that a car pool is “an arrangement among a group of automobile owners by which each owner in turn drives the others or their children to and from a designated place.”

This green-living strategy saves money and allows people to be part of the solution to pollution, resource depletion, dependence on foreign oil and global warming, to name a few. This all happens because it is much more efficient to use a car with several people in it rather than one car per person. Fewer cars on the road burns less fuel, resulting in less carbon and other emissions. There is also a direct and positive effect in reducing traffic congestion.

There are plenty of other benefits to carpooling besides filling up the tank much less often. Your vehicle will have less wear and tear. There are fewer opportunities for an errant rock to ding your windshield or hood. With lower yearly mileage, you may even qualify for a break on your insurance rates.

Riding regularly with friends and co-workers opens other possibilities, as well. First of all, the awareness of being responsible for your passengers should provide good reason to drive safely, perhaps safer than one might normally drive when alone on auto pilot. Passengers can let go of the stress, relax and enjoy the ride, or grab a quick nap if really tired.

Rather than the distraction of a cell phone you will be more inclined to have live conversations. One of the most common complaints about modern society is that many people lack a sense of community. Having company on the daily commute provides more opportunities for laughter and sharing. It can add depth and dimension that may have been lacking before. Existing friendships can be strengthened and new ones created.

Carpooling also can provide time to discuss work-related issues, review schedules or meetings, and basically be more productive. Speaking of work, some employers actually have special parking spaces for car-pool vehicles.

If you normally park in your driveway at home, there can be an added security benefit, making it look like someone is there when you’re really at work. Riding with others can be a learning experience, as well, since you might learn a new shortcut or two. We all know how valuable those can be.

There are clearly a lot of benefits to carpooling. It provides SUV owners a way to cut down significantly on their vehicle’s impact, since the large capacity can result in high person/miles-per-gallon when fully loaded. For example, an efficient hybrid car can average around 50 miles per gallon, while an SUV may only get 15 mpg. But that same SUV with six people inside can get 90 person/miles-per-gallon. Clearly, a full SUV is an efficient SUV. A small hybrid with four people is still a great option, yielding around 200 person/miles-per-gallon.

So, what are the downsides of car pools? There are a few, but most of them can be greatly reduced if the participants act responsibly and stick to the schedule.

There is less opportunity to make a side trip or leave work early or late, unless everyone agrees in advance or can make other arrangements. You may have a chance to work on your patience skills when someone is running a bit late. Flexibility is a good thing, since there will be times when you’ll have to switch driving duties to accommodate someone else’s appointment, for example.

I am often asked what the average person can do to make a difference with the environment. They are concerned and want to take action. Many are also feeling the burden of rising energy prices, especially at the gas pump.

Carpooling is a great solution to these issues, especially when work schedules are conducive to it. Not everyone can car pool, but we are far from using it to its full potential.

There are also other ways to create carpooling opportunities, like eRideShare.com. The Web site helps people connect with others who may not work at the same place but are very close, or for those with no car at all who are willing to share expenses. As with any online service, caution and common sense are advised.

Sharing ideas, creating community, solving problems with practical solutions — that’s what green living is all about. I hope to see you in the car-pool lane sometime in the near future.

Steve Rypka is a green living consultant and president of GreenDream Enterprises, specializing in renewable energy, green building, alternative transportation and lifestyle choices for both residential and commercial clients. The company is committed to helping people live lighter on the planet. Rypka can be reached via e-mail at steve@greendream.biz or at www.greendream.biz.