Travel and Transport
Both being home-based for our work, travel is no longer a significant part of our lives. A previous business organisational life had wrestled away any enthusiasm for daily commute by train or car. We successfully and happily opted to work from home and avoid the daily commute and holiday airports.
Cars
2018 - Nissan Leaf 2018 All Electric
In October 2018 we purchased the Nissan Leaf 2018 40Kw battery version A 7Kw Battery charger was installed on the garage wall with an 8-metre cable so future electric cars could be charged in a choice of 3 positions within the garage and 2 outside the garage.
The vehicle immediately reduced our operational carbon footprint as its electricity is supplied by wholly green renewable wind energy Ecotricity. Charging is done on an off-peak tariff between midnight and 0700 which is adequate time to top up the battery (40Kw /7Kw charger = 6 hours).
Range varies depending on the season from 155 - 175 miles on a full battery. Excellent economics averaging in its first year 2.39 pence per mile compared to 14.6p per mile for the Prius hybrid . The driving experience is very good.
Plane
Since 2000 Air Travel has generally been avoided and for many years no air travel has been undertaken at all which has had a beneficial effect on our carbon footprints. We aim to keep air travel under 1,500 miles a year (per person) but exceptions beyond our control sometimes happen causing the peaks in 2014 and 2018. Over the last 21 years (2000 - 2021) we have averaged 680 air miles per year per person, the equivalent of a return trip from London to Edinbugh each year.
Train
The train was used for routinely commuting 30 miles (2 hours) a day until 2003.
Since then only a few 25-mile train trips are typically made each year. When holidaying we increasingly look to rail travel and utilise seat61.com for detailed advice in the most enjoyable of all travel modes, particularly in Europe.
Bus
The bus is used for approximately 6 journeys per year on holiday or to travel within 10 miles of home on one of a dozen hourly services a day (8 am to 7 pm) to/from the local town. We make more frequent use of the bus as part of the local Park and Ride services into the town centre and back. An excellent service on an all electric bus, since 2019, and a welcome facility for us. Since becomoimg a single car household in 2022 we are using the local bus services more often.
Bicycle
The 18-year old bicycle that once was regularly used in summer and winters to get around the village was finally recycled in 2010 after many years of service. It may be replaced with a more robust and better geared model in due course, but for now, walking is the only mode option for journeys within a mile of home.
Our Transport saving habits
- Both our businesses are operated from home and eliminate daily commuting.
- Home and business purchases are delivered wherever possible. A delivery vehicle will typically be more fuel and carbon efficient than a special trip by an individual car. For this reason, we also make use of weekly Supermarket home deliveries.
- When possible, we ask for deliveries to be made by post (Royal Mail). The postman comes to (or past) our home 6 days a week so there is insignificant additional carbon emissions by a home delivery to us.
- Use a fuel efficient and low-carbon-emission vehicle and drive it gently to avoid heavy acceleration or braking. Since 2018 we are using an All electric Nissan Leaf with zero emmissions.
- Walk when possible.
- Use Park and Ride bus services.
- Primarily holiday in the UK and avoid carbon-heavy air or sea travel. Since 2015 we have resumed some travel but with a planned cap of 1,500 miles per year.