By the Numbers: Public Transit's Green Effects

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IT'S PROBABLY NOT TOO SHOCKING that using public transportation regularly is much more friendly to the environment than driving around from point A to point B. A new study from the American Public Transportation Association shows that having a green commute is a more effective way to reduce your carbon footprint than other methods of lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

Here's a look at the environmental effects of mass transit, by the numbers:

» 580,000: The number of cars taken off the road each weekday in the Washington area because of Metrorail and Metrobus usage, according to Metro. That equals a reduction in 10,000 tons of pollutants from the air each year.
» 20: The number of pounds of carbon emissions that won't go into the air if a driver switches to public transportation. That's more than 4,800 pounds per year, according to the study.

» 2,847: The number of pounds of carbon saved per year by adjusting thermostats and properly weatherizing one's home. Transit use saves nearly double the amount of carbon.
» 445: The number of pounds of carbon saved if five incandescent bulbs are replaced with low-wattage compact fluorescent lamps. Using public transit saves more than 14 times the amount of carbon.
» 335: The number of pounds of carbon dioxide saved by replacing an older refrigerator/freezer with one that's more energy efficient. Using mass transit saves more than 14 times the amount of carbon.

» "Public Transportation Use Substantially Reduces Greenhouse Gases, According to New Study" [APTA]

Photo by Larry Morris/The Washington Post