Can you save energy by using public transport? It’s not that simple

(guardian---commentary_blog, 10 Sep 2014) Car use is declining while the popularity of train travel is on the rise, but calculating cost per trip is a complex business.

Transport is the most visible consumer of energy apart from heating. From planes soaring into the sky and heavy trains thundering along the rails at 125mph to the Smart cars and mopeds pootling around our city streets, every mode of transport (apart from cycling and walking) is a major consumer of energy.

Transport accounts for around a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions. The good news is that overall consumption of energy by transport is falling in the UK, but not at a rate that we can get excited about. According to the Department of Energy and Climate Change, greenhouse gas emissions fell by just 0.2% between 2012 and 2013 – but this figure does not include international shipping or aviation, and those sectors are growing.

Transport trends over the past 20 years have seen growth in car use slowing down dramatically, leading to discussions over whether “peak car” has finally been reached. There is no single explanation for this phenomenon, but the increase in fuel prices, growing attractiveness of trains, road congestion, and the reduced tax advantages of company cars have all contributed.

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guardian---commentary_blog, 10 Sep 2014: Can you save energy by using public transport? It’s not that simple