Unless you’re driving an electric car powered by renewable electricity sources, or are carpooling to work, chances are your driving habits produce more greenhouse gas emissions per mile than air travel. This is the conclusion reached by Michael Sivak of the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, after factoring such variables as car/plane fuel efficiency, the average number of persons traveling per car/plane and average distances traveled. Yet another lens through which to assess the impact of our daily commute. On a more positive note, we may also enjoy a guilt-free summer trip—and still decide to ditch the solitary car commutes for a greener option when we return home.
If flying is greener than driving, what does that say about our daily commute?
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