xcel
05-15-2009, 12:01 AM
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg Union of Concerned Scientists rate travel alternatives. The results might surprise you. (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=208013)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2010_Prius-III_-_best_on_vacation.jpgWayne Gerdes - CleanMPG (cleanmpg.com) - May 15, 2009
2010 Toyota Prius-III - $22,000 to start and 50 mpgUS Combined – Best all-around “family-of-four” vacation vehicle of all.
The ultimate travel guide has nothing to do with a given destinations amenities but describes how to get to a destination with the least amount of emissions while possibly saving both time and money.
While the idea of “green” vacations has attracted attention recently, most information focuses on what to do when you get to your destination, not on how to get there. No definitive source has been available to guide travelers toward the greenest travel option—trains, planes, automobiles, or motor coach (a.k.a. buses)—for their particular vacation.
The following looks at the environmental impact of domestic vacation travel in terms of CO2.
UCS researchers compared the amount of CO2 output from four main methods of travel. These included driving 3-types of different automobiles, flying in a multitude of different aircraft, riding in 2-different types of trains, touring by coach bus. The study also had a break out of the various modes of transportation over a given vacation distance of 100, 500 and 1,000 + miles plus emissions based on the number of vacationers within your family that will take the trip.
Carbon Footprint by vehicle and Travel Distance
(Total Pounds of CO2 per Trip)
Solo Traveler (Blue)
Couple (Red)
Family of Four (Green)
Trip Miles|Bus|Train|Prius|SUV| Airplane
100|15|45|55|140|75
"|35|85|55|140|150
"|65|170|60|150|305
||||||
250|40|110|135|345|160
"|85|215|140|355|315
"|170|430|150|375|630
||||||
500|85|215|270|695|300
"|170|430|282|710|605
"|335|860|302| 755|1,205
||||||
1,000|170|430|542|1,385|514
"|335|860|562|1,445|835
"|670|1,720|605|1,505|1,665
Notes: Well to gas tank CO2 emissions excluded. Not every vehicle travels direct. Airplane data are for a nonstop coach flight.
Prius and SUV data reflect typical vehicle fuel economies of 46 mpg and 18 mpg, respectively. Train emissions reflect
current use-weighted average of electric and diesel passenger trains.
Basic conclusions
For Solo travelers or when traveling as a couple, it's greener to ride the bus than any other form of transport including riding the train, driving a Prius or flying according to the UCS estimates.
For solo flyers, only those traveling longer distances (750-miles or more) non-stop can reduce your carbon output vs. driving a Prius. Additionally, the square foot allocated for a First-class seat is nearly double what it is in Economy class thereby doubling your CO2 output on a CO2 emissions/miles traveled basis. Budget airlines such as Southwest with no first-class seats can lower a plane's per-person emissions by 10 to 15 percent vs. those with a small number of First class and a large number coach class seating.
Compared with flying economy class, a couple travelling on the bus will cut their trip's carbon dioxide emissions 60 to 75 percent depending on the distance travelled. Compared to even a Prius, a bus trip would cut a couple's trip emissions by up to 40 percent. In addition, bus travel is usually less expensive than flying and for a solo traveler, can be less expensive than driving.
Train travel benefits - Trains usually drop you off within city centers eliminating the need to drive in worst traffic conditions reducing CO2 emissions even further. Riding the train during a vacation outputs approximately 18% less CO2 than driving single and over 30% less than a small commuter jet on a 500-mile or shorter trip.
And when it comes to the ultimate family road trip of any distance, nothing can beat a Prius at just 46 mpg with four aboard. Anything over 46 mpg no matter what you own and drive is frosting on the cake.
For more detailed information, please review the UCS’ detailed write-up entitled: Getting there Greener – The Guide to your low-carbon vacation. (http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/clean_vehicles/greentravel_report.pdf)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2010_Prius-III_-_best_on_vacation.jpgWayne Gerdes - CleanMPG (cleanmpg.com) - May 15, 2009
2010 Toyota Prius-III - $22,000 to start and 50 mpgUS Combined – Best all-around “family-of-four” vacation vehicle of all.
The ultimate travel guide has nothing to do with a given destinations amenities but describes how to get to a destination with the least amount of emissions while possibly saving both time and money.
While the idea of “green” vacations has attracted attention recently, most information focuses on what to do when you get to your destination, not on how to get there. No definitive source has been available to guide travelers toward the greenest travel option—trains, planes, automobiles, or motor coach (a.k.a. buses)—for their particular vacation.
The following looks at the environmental impact of domestic vacation travel in terms of CO2.
UCS researchers compared the amount of CO2 output from four main methods of travel. These included driving 3-types of different automobiles, flying in a multitude of different aircraft, riding in 2-different types of trains, touring by coach bus. The study also had a break out of the various modes of transportation over a given vacation distance of 100, 500 and 1,000 + miles plus emissions based on the number of vacationers within your family that will take the trip.
Carbon Footprint by vehicle and Travel Distance
(Total Pounds of CO2 per Trip)
Solo Traveler (Blue)
Couple (Red)
Family of Four (Green)
Trip Miles|Bus|Train|Prius|SUV| Airplane
100|15|45|55|140|75
"|35|85|55|140|150
"|65|170|60|150|305
||||||
250|40|110|135|345|160
"|85|215|140|355|315
"|170|430|150|375|630
||||||
500|85|215|270|695|300
"|170|430|282|710|605
"|335|860|302| 755|1,205
||||||
1,000|170|430|542|1,385|514
"|335|860|562|1,445|835
"|670|1,720|605|1,505|1,665
Notes: Well to gas tank CO2 emissions excluded. Not every vehicle travels direct. Airplane data are for a nonstop coach flight.
Prius and SUV data reflect typical vehicle fuel economies of 46 mpg and 18 mpg, respectively. Train emissions reflect
current use-weighted average of electric and diesel passenger trains.
Basic conclusions
For Solo travelers or when traveling as a couple, it's greener to ride the bus than any other form of transport including riding the train, driving a Prius or flying according to the UCS estimates.
For solo flyers, only those traveling longer distances (750-miles or more) non-stop can reduce your carbon output vs. driving a Prius. Additionally, the square foot allocated for a First-class seat is nearly double what it is in Economy class thereby doubling your CO2 output on a CO2 emissions/miles traveled basis. Budget airlines such as Southwest with no first-class seats can lower a plane's per-person emissions by 10 to 15 percent vs. those with a small number of First class and a large number coach class seating.
Compared with flying economy class, a couple travelling on the bus will cut their trip's carbon dioxide emissions 60 to 75 percent depending on the distance travelled. Compared to even a Prius, a bus trip would cut a couple's trip emissions by up to 40 percent. In addition, bus travel is usually less expensive than flying and for a solo traveler, can be less expensive than driving.
Train travel benefits - Trains usually drop you off within city centers eliminating the need to drive in worst traffic conditions reducing CO2 emissions even further. Riding the train during a vacation outputs approximately 18% less CO2 than driving single and over 30% less than a small commuter jet on a 500-mile or shorter trip.
And when it comes to the ultimate family road trip of any distance, nothing can beat a Prius at just 46 mpg with four aboard. Anything over 46 mpg no matter what you own and drive is frosting on the cake.
For more detailed information, please review the UCS’ detailed write-up entitled: Getting there Greener – The Guide to your low-carbon vacation. (http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/clean_vehicles/greentravel_report.pdf)