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Take the chance to enjoy the summer weather before it’s gone by walking or biking to work, home, or just around town for errands. If you’re not a fan of the hot and humid temperatures, you can still carpool with friends and coworkers. No matter if you carpool, walk, or bike, you can save energy, money and decrease pollution.

This month, we’ll break down some of the best resources to help you safely walk, bike, and carpool.

Green Living Ideas is a good place to start learning more about carpooling. Their website provides a list of Smartphone carpool apps to help you stay safe. Their article has just been updated this summer to include the newest apps.

Some businesses provide perks if employees carpool, walk or bike to work. Ask your supervisor or manager to see if there are any incentives already in place.

Several websites provide articles on the benefits of walking and biking. Here are a few benefits they discuss.

• Walking for 30 minutes a day can be added to your regular exercise routine or be the first step to establishing regular exercise.

• Walking and biking can help reduce roadway congestion

• A bicycle commuter who rides four miles to work, five days a week, avoids 2,000 miles of driving and (in the U.S.) about 2,000 pounds of CO2 emissions, each year. This amounts to nearly a five percent reduction in the average American’s carbon footprint (World Watch Magazine, 2010)

• Physical activity like walking and biking can help prevent:
  • Heart disease
  • Obesity
  • High blood pressure
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Osteoporosis (thinning bones)
  • Mental health problems such as depression

The Library has several books to help you make simple changes to go greener. You can place these books on hold and pick up at any of our Lackawanna County Libraries.

• Shift Your Habit: Easy Changes to Save Your Money, Time, Planet by Elizabeth Rogers
• Green Living for Dummies by Yvonne Jeffrey
• Generation Green: The Ultimate Teen Guide to Living an Eco-Friendly Life by Linda Silvertsen

Find more Go Green with the Library articles by searching “Go Green” in the search box above.