Simple Frugal Actions to cut Transport costs

Transport in Europe contribute 25% to the total greenhouse gases emitted into our atmosphere. Closer to home and according to the latest census, Irish car ownership represents about 77% of the population. When you consider the costs to producing a car, examine the resources used – metal ores, mineral components, plastic, rubber for tyres and paint. Interestingly, the cost of running a car for one year is over €10,000- Could this be shared among others?

Alternatively, Go Car offers a novel way to reduce resource and finance costs. The Go Car initiative allow citizens to rent a car for a period without the headache of fuel, maintenance, parking, security, breakdown, and insurance costs. With prices starting as low as €9 per hour and over 950 vehicles available to reserve, the action is a great example of frugality in action.

Carpooling children to school is another example of ways to reduce travel times, cut emissions and costs for parents. Could this be used for travelling to work or shopping instead of individually contributing to resource depletion and biodiversity loss.

Choosing frugal actions and reconsidering our resource use can reduce emissions, improve biodiversity, and cut air pollution enhancing our health and wellbeing. The FEEL Project aims to implement frugality in Cork and in seven other cities across Europe. In supporting the frugal approach, the partners will influence communities, policymakers, and elected officials to change policies and promote a more frugal way of life.