OhioRideShare is available to residents in 13 counties located in Ohio, and it provides a safe and easy way to find rides to work, school, etc. This is an option you can use if your coworkers don’t live in your area, or if you can’t find anyone you know who is willing to carpool. Now you’re probably wondering how safe this program is, but you can decide what information other users see. Plus, you can always walk to a gas station or coffee shop to meet your potential carpool partner, and if you feel comfortable with the person, you can have them pick and drop you off at places nearby your home or office.

Even if you have disabilities or lack an Internet connection, you can still utilize this program. Call 1-800-825-RIDE to become registered in the program. If you don’t live in Ohio, you’re state most likely has a similar program. The University of South Florida has compiled a list of ridematching software, and some of them are not state specific such as the carpool application on Facebook.

These programs can help your family reduce its consumption of gasoline, and you would be surprised how much you can benefit from it. There is potential to save money and reduce your emissions. As you rely less on a car, you will replace it with alternatives such as walking and riding a bike when it comes to shorter trips.

First Things First

It’s tempting to rush out of your house with your bare basics so you can get to your destination faster, but by taking an hour or two to prepare your house, you can reduce your waste and save money on your next electricity bill. For example, set window candles or other security lights on a timer, turn off the air conditioning, switch power strips off and unplug any devices or appliances.

Packing some basic snack foods will prevent some of your food from going to waste and reduce your driving time since you will not need to stop at restaurants. Consider taking peanut butter, bread, nuts, dried fruits and maybe some ripe vegetables from your garden too.

Transportation Options

To reduce your carbon footprint, try carpooling with others by leaving for the vacation spot at the same time. If you’re traveling solo for a more relaxing getaway, use a ride share program, which will help find you a person to carpool with.

When the destination is too far to drive to, purchase a carbon offset from Terra Pass. An alternative is to book your flight on a website such as RezHub, which donates a percentage of its profits to eco-friendly organizations. Once you reach your destination, walking or renting a bicycle or a hybrid rental car can give you the chance to sightsee.

Sustainable getaways are ones that you will remember for being eco-friendly and maybe even less expensive than your past trips.