At work
Business and industry can also be leaders in the effort to ensure cleaner air. Read Pollution Probe's "S.M.A.R.T.Movement" manual at www.pollutionprobe.org/Publications/Air.htm for ideas on how to implement some of the following suggestions at a workplace.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Promote telecommuting to employees. Also known as teleworking, telecommuting is when employees work from remote locations, usually from home.
Why? If one million Canadians telecommuted just one day per week, in one year they would save approximately 200,000 tonnes of air pollutants, $34 million worth of fuel costs and one billion kilometres of mileage, avoid the gridlock of an extra million cars on the road, and free up 50 million hours that could otherwise be spent with family and friends.
Did you know? More than 1.5 million Canadians, or 10.7% of the workforce, perform their jobs by telecommuting at least some of the time.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Remove parking subsidies and add parking fees to your workplace parking lot.
Why? Single-passenger driving can be reduced by as much as 30% by removing parking subsidies or charging for parking where it used to be free.
Did you know? Parking lots are expensive. Depending on where an office is located, employers can save between $30,000 and $200,000 annually by eliminating 50 employee parking spots.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Encourage and facilitate carpooling at your workplace.
Why? When more employees carpool, fewer parking spots are needed, freeing up valuable land space.
Did you know? Twenty per cent of Toronto Hydro employees joined a carpool program after the utility offered them guaranteed indoor carpool parking and reduced their parking rate.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Encourage cycling at your workplace by providing shower facilities and bicycle storage for employees.
Why? Making cycling to work as convenient as possible will increase people's desire to switch from driving alone in their motorized vehicles.
Did you know? The average cost to manufacture and install a post-and-ring bike stand accommodating two bikes is only $125. The cost for a high-security bike locker is only $1,000.
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