BY ABIGAIL GILMORE

According to the Energy Information Administration, transportation accounts for 33 percent of CO2 emissions in the U.S.  Luckily, there are easy ways to reduce the amount of CO2 you emit through transportation.

1. Find out the size of your carbon footprint.

The Nature Conservancy website offers a carbon footprint calculator that allows you to analyze you and your household’s carbon footprint.  Simply enter details about your living arrangements, transportation, eating habits and more, and it will calculate your carbon footprint. http://www.nature.org/greenliving/carboncalculator.

2. Change your commute.

According to TransportationSolutions.org, if you try an alternative form of transportation just one day per week, you can prevent the release of more than 1500 pounds of CO2 per year.  Consider taking public transportation, walking, biking, carpooling or even telecommuting.

3. Maintain your car.

Believe it or not, keeping your car tuned and running well can impact the environment.  Stay on schedule with regular maintenance like replacing your air, oil and fuel filters, and closely monitor your tires’ air pressure.  According to Carbonfund.org, a nonprofit organization committed to fighting against global warming, keeping your tires properly inflated can save about 400 to 700 pounds of CO2 a year.

4. Improve your driving.

Carbonfund.org cites studies showing that driving habits can alter fuel economy by up to 30 percent.  To decrease CO2 emission, they recommend driving at or below the speed limit, accelerating and braking efficiently, maintaining a steady speed, and avoiding sudden starts and stops.

5. Plan a green vacation.

For your next getaway, book nonstop flights, find the best ground transportation available and stay in eco-friendly hotels.  Before you lock your door, don’t forget to turn everything off and unplug anything you don’t need power for over that timeframe.   Make sure to turn your thermostat and water heater to an energy-efficient setting.

6. Walk, bike, skateboard, rollerblade, etc.

In most cases, using our own energy to get from point A to point B is more efficient than driving.  Even a Toyota Prius – one of the greenest cars – can emit more than 3 tons of CO2 a year.  If you’re going a short distance, consider using alternative forms of transportation.

7. Buy local.

Monetary and environmental costs are incurred when products are brought into our state.  Ever consider how much CO2 a plane emits traveling overseas to the U.S. to transport goods?  Every 2062 miles traveled by plane accounts for 1 ton (2204 lbs) of CO2 emissions per person – that’s over one pound per mile.  If you commit to buying local, it puts money back into the local economy and cuts down on the emissions from out-of-state transport.

As we use some form of transportation daily, consider choosing alternative forms of transportation that are good for you and the environment!