The early bird has always caught the worm – but did you know that it could catch some significant savings too?
Seventy one per cent of commuters in the UK travel by car, but, according to a new study, by adjusting their hours away from the typical 9-5 shift they could save their wallets and the environment.
The first obvious advantage is avoiding rush hour traffic. Not only is this time saving, but getting to work quicker will also use less fuel. Sitting in a queue will almost certainly use more fuel, which in turn will contribute to poorer air quality. In fact, the study revealed that fuel economy can leap dependent on when you leave the house – the example quoted witnessing a near £2 leap in petrol costs just by travelling at 7:45am instead of 6am.
It’s certainly an excellent incentive to get out of bed rather than hit the snooze button when you know you could be saving around £10 a week and also doing your bit for the environment. However, in many instances working hours are not flexible.
If this is the case and you still want to contribute then consider car sharing with a colleague. Single occupant cars account for around 85 per cent of commuting vehicles, but sharing with a colleague could cut your motoring expenses in half and take a vehicle off the road.
Also carefully evaluate how and when you use your car. Could you reduce your carbon impact by driving to a gym closer to home or by showering at the end of the day instead of at the start so you can leave the house earlier?
Make your commuting green and your small changes could have a big effect.
