As a residential graduate student, I pretty much live in Environment Hall. But when I do have to
commute between EH and my apartment in Durham, I’ve been doing so in a pretty cool, eco-friendly way: carpooling.

Sustainable Duke

At first, I was skeptical of the idea. How am I going to coordinate getting to campus with two other p
eople, who have completely different classes, meetings, and work scheduled each week?

But, I’ve come to find as long as we communicate with each other about our daily departure times, carpooling is fantastic!

So, how much does carpooling actually help the environment? The average person can save 749 pounds o
f CO2 emissions per year 
for every weekday you carpool with one other person. My carpool is with
two other students, so we’re reducing our carbon emissions even more!

Duke has definitely taken steps to incentivize carpooling. We get to park in our preferred lot (which is otherwise impossible to get a spot in as a grad student), and the best spots (closest to Environment Hall) are reserved just for carpoolers! At the cost of only $5.50 per month person with 3 riders, it is very affordable – by contrast, an individual parking pass in our lot at Duke costs $366 per year. In addition, each of us receive two daily passes per month to drive to campus individually, if necessary.

I realize carpooling everyday simply isn’t a realistic option for everyone, especially for online students that do
n’t have the great incentives that Duke provides. Here are some other suggestions for how to reduce your carbon footprint in during your commute:

Whenever possible…

  1. Look for alternative modes of transportation
    For those of us in Durham, there are lots of buses to take you from point A to point B. Plus, DATA has a great app to track your bus. And don’t forget to bike or walk whenever possible – you’ll enjoy getting some fresh air!

When you do drive…

  1. Try carpooling just one day a week
    Every car off the road counts – not only for reducing emissions, but for reducing congestion on the roads, and saving money! Duke Parking has a calculator to determine just how much you can save here.
  1. Don’t idle!
    It may not seem like it matters, but leaving the engine running while you’re n
    ot actually driving can add up to some extreme waste! Anything over 10 seconds of idling uses more fuel than shutting off and restarting your vehicle. AAA estimates that you burn a quarter gallon of gas every 15 minutes you idle.
  1. Make sure your car is well maintained to get the most MPG
    Low tire pressure or dirty oil means your car runs less efficiently. Making sure your car is well maintained can save 400-700 pounds of CO2 emissions per year! Making sure your vehicle is clean and up-to-date is safer, too.

Bonus: a lifestyle change that is great for the planet, your health, and your wallet!

  1. Pack your own lunch!
    This is good for so many reasons: you’ll reduce your carbon emissions by not driving to a restaurant, you’ll save money by not eating out. If you typically order your lunch to-go at a restaurant, bringing your own lunch in a reusable container reduces waste from disposable packaging. And remember: when you do pack your lunch, try to use local produce!

By Tricia Hooper, MEM ’16

Image courtesy of Sustainable Duke.