Metro Unveils New Carbon Calculator

CINCINNATI - It's almost Earth Day... do you know your carbon footprint?

Analyze the impact of your commuting habits on the environment with Metro’s new, free Carbon Calculator at www.go-metro.com.

"Every car trip has an environmental cost," said Marilyn Shazor, Metro's CEO. "Our Carbon Calculator shows how much carbon dioxide driving creates. Riding Metro for even a few trips a week helps reduce a commuter's carbon footprint."

Here's how the Carbon Calculator works:

Visit www.go-metro.com... the carbon calculator link is on the homepage
Choose option 2, "Metro Carbon Calculator - Metro Green Fund" (it's FREE, you do NOT have to make a donation)
Select the vehicle size, one-way commute miles, and number of driving days
The calculator does the rest

Here's an example: a driver commutes to work in a mid-sized car 11.4 miles one-way from Kenwood to downtown Cincinnati 5-days a week.

The calculator determines she drives 5,928 miles per year and uses 247 gallons of gas.
That single car produces almost 399 pounds of CO2 every month and more than 4,781 pounds of CO2 a year.
An SUV, mini-van or larger car would pollute even more. A compact car would leave a smaller footprint.

There is also a carbon calculator (Option 1) for commuters who are already using transit or saving trips by carpooling, walking or bicycling. The calculator determines the value of these environmentally friendly actions in reducing the community's carbon footprint.

Offset your carbon with a donation

Another way people can offset your carbon footprint is to donate to the Everybody Rides Metro foundation’s special "green" fund to help offset the increased cost of purchasing hybrid Metro buses. Credit-card donations can be made on the Carbon Calculator or at www.everybodyridesmetro.org.

In our country, greenhouse gases from transportation represent one-third of total greenhouse gas emissions, and automobiles and light trucks are the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions from mobile sources. By understanding their personal carbon impact, drivers can choose to take actions, big or small, to reduce their environmental, such as riding transit.

Metro is a non-profit public service of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority, providing about 23 million rides per year in Greater Cincinnati.

Click here to learn more about Metro's Environmental Benefits

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