Switching Your Transport to Clean Energy

Unlike large urban centre’s most of Te Taitokerau is not easily accessible by public transport or active modes of transport like walking or cycling- they may not meet the long distances many of us use daily for work, school or recreation. However, there are a range of public transport options in our main centre’s and link routes between main townships that could be used more. And most of us can still walk or cycle more than we do now for much of our local community needs.

There are also other options. For those who can’t afford too, and for those looking to replace their current car. Considering an electric alternative to diesel or petrol vehicles may surprise you how affordable it can be. There are now a noticeable proportion of electric vehicles on our roads, so maybe ask one of those drivers what there experience has been like. EV drivers are generally a friendly bunch, and your bound to find them at a local charging station.

But what if all of this is too hard. You can’t afford to switch to an EV yet, you can’t substitute for cycling because you’re driving kids or carrying work equipment, etc. Well in that case the answer is simple. Drive less. Find ways to minimize you driving habits; can you do a larger shopping and services run and limit that to once a week or even a fortnight. Perhaps you can combine you work commute, school run and shopping run into the same trips and avoid multiple trips into town. Perhaps you can carpool for some of those times.

If you are already doing or trying to do more of these things, keep at it. It makes a difference. How much of a difference can even be calculated to show just how effective the small changes you make are.