Five Unexpected Benefits of Carpooling | How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

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The money you’ll save from reduced fuel usage is one of the best reasons to carpool. Depending on the size of your carpool and distance of your commute, you could save hundreds or thousands of dollars every year. But carpooling doesn’t just benefit your wallet; it can positively affect the environment and the traffic in your area, and it can add usable time to your day. Here are five ways carpooling does more than just save gas.

1. Reduce your carbon footprint – According to rideshare.com, every car annually emits its own weight in carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carpooling reduces that amount significantly. If you carpool to and from work, you could probably cut your transportation emissions number in half, or even better.
2. Use of carpool lanes – Many major metropolitan areas have specially designated carpool lanes that are reserved for vehicles with two or more passengers. These lanes are typically less congested than typical freeway lanes, which means your commute time could be reduced considerably if you travel with coworkers.
3. Usable commute time – If you drive to work alone every day, the time spent behind the wheel is essentially wasted. Driving demands our complete attention, which means it’s difficult to be productive with your time on the road. Riding in a carpool allows you to check and answer email, read the news, check bank balances, or even close your eyes for a few minutes before starting your day.
4. Save money – In addition to the money you’ll save by using less gas, some cities have initiated programs that reward carpoolers with cash. The Clean Air Campaign, located in Georgia, motivates carpooling with money and prizes.
5. Reduce traffic congestion – The benefits of carpooling on a large scale are huge. Every carpooling participant takes another car off the road, which means less congested roads and highways. As more people take part in carpooling programs or organize carpools within their workplaces, overall traffic congestion will decrease, which reduces fuel consumption, commute time, and the cost of road repairs.

Carpooling is beneficial on an individual level and for your community as a whole. It can reduce air pollution while saving you money in the process. If you’re considering carpooling as a way to save money on vehicle expenses, consider other strategies such as comparing auto insurance quotes or auto loan refinance rates, as well. It’s a good idea to revisit these monthly bills occasionally to ensure that you’re not overpaying, especially since auto loan rates can fluctuate throughout the year.