Employee transportation is a key area where schools can reduce their carbon footprint and promote environmental stewardship. This START metric focuses on incentivizing sustainable commuting options, such as public transit, biking, walking, or carpooling. By implementing strategies like subsidizing public transit, setting commuting goals, installing bike share stations, or adopting flexible scheduling, schools can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, traffic congestion, and commuting costs for employees.
Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., accounting for 27% of total emissions in 2020 (EPA). Encouraging sustainable commutes not only benefits the environment but also improves employee health, satisfaction, and productivity. Schools that prioritize sustainable transportation contribute to a healthier community and model responsible behavior for students and staff.
Strategies for Promoting Sustainable Employee Transportation
NOTE: This is not a prescriptive list; it just offers ideas to inspire action and can be tailored to fit the unique needs of each school.
Subsidize Public Transit
Offer partial or full reimbursement for bus, train, or metro passes to encourage the use of public transportation.
Partner with local transit authorities to provide discounted fares for school employees.
Promote Biking and Walking
Install bike racks or secure bike storage areas on campus.
Develop walking or biking routes with clear signage for safe commutes.
Offer incentives for employees who bike or walk to work, such as rewards or recognition programs.
Establish a Carpool Program
Create a carpool matching system to connect employees with similar routes.
Offer preferred parking spots or other perks for carpool participants.
Provide Electric Vehicle (EV) Support
Install EV charging stations on campus to encourage employees to use electric or hybrid vehicles.
Provide incentives or assistance programs for employees transitioning to EVs.
Adopt Flexible Scheduling
Allow employees to adjust work hours to avoid peak commuting times, reducing stress and emissions.
Offer options for remote or hybrid work to decrease the need for daily commuting.
Implement Bike Share Programs
Collaborate with local bike share services to provide on-campus docking stations.
Subsidize memberships for employees to use bike share services for their commutes.
Set Commuting Goals and Challenges
Create a school-wide goal to reduce commuting emissions by a specific percentage.
Host friendly competitions or challenges to encourage sustainable commuting habits.
Provide Facilities for Active Commuters
Offer on-site showers and changing rooms for employees who bike or walk to work.
Ensure locker facilities are available for secure storage of personal items.
Educate Employees on Sustainable Options
Share resources and tips for sustainable commuting through newsletters, workshops, or posters.
Highlight the environmental and health benefits of sustainable transportation.
Recognize school employees who walk, use public transportation or carpooling as their means for transportation to and from employment across the school year.
Track and Celebrate Progress
Measure the percentage of employees using sustainable transportation options and monitor changes over time.
Celebrate milestones, such as reduced commuting emissions or increased participation in sustainable programs.
Collaborate with Local Partners
Partner with local governments, transportation agencies, or non-profits to access grants or resources for sustainable commuting initiatives.
Advocate for improved bike lanes, sidewalks, or public transit routes near the school.
Offer Incentives for Low-Impact Transportation
Provide bonuses, gift cards, or other rewards for employees who consistently use sustainable commuting methods.
Create a points system where employees earn rewards for walking, biking, or carpooling.
Install electric charging stations on school campus to welcome cleaner transportation vehicles
Additional Resources
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Success Stories: Programs That Increase Walking & Bicycling
From Safe Routes, an overview of 8 programs to increase walking and bicycling rates, methods to measure progress, and links to program evaluation resources.
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Re-envisioning School Streets
From Safe Routes, case studies, examples of street modifications to improve safety and access around schools, and considerations for changes in different settings.
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Schools hold the key to a healthy, sustainable and regenerative future.
They are role-models and incubators that that nurture, educate and prepare each generation for adult life.
Schools have a unique opportunity and profound responsibility to become part the transition to a sustainable, regenerative future in which people and planet can thrive.
But how do we get there?
START: Sustainability Tracking, Analytics & Roadmap Tool was created by schools, for schools, to help them develop comprehensive programs for step-by-step progress towards sustainability, regenerative practice, and student empowerment.
START provides a Roadmap for School Sustainability:
It breaks down school sustainability into clear actions (‘metrics’), such as Minimizing Waste, Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and supporting Sustainable Transportation options.
However, research shows it’s not enough for a school to simply reduce its environmental impact.
Students and staff also need to learn about sustainability, and practice it in day-to-day activities, because this impacts their attitudes and behaviors when they leave school. That’s why START includes metrics like Sustainability Events for Students, Sustainability Course Content, and Sustainable Purchasing Practices.
How sustainable is our school now?
Schools use START to measure how sustainable they are now. A school’s START team investigates how their school currently operates to find their ‘sustainability baseline’ for each metric. For example, is our school a beginner, intermediate or advanced in sustainable water use? START enables schools to benchmark, track and visualize their current sustainability levels, as well as hard data around their waste, water, energy and greenhouse gas emissions.
Where should we go next, and do we collaborate for success?
What do we need to do to ‘level up’ in each metric? Once schools have their baselines, START helps them to set goals and plan for progress. START provides a central hub for school members to collaborate, document, and plan their school’s sustainability journey.
START is a subscription-based Whole School Sustainability dashboard.
It requires at least one adult school member to create a school’s START account, but it will need a team (students, teachers and staff) to grow a Whole School Sustainability program.
Interested schools can sign up for a demo or apply to set up an account.
Learn more about START here, and consider sharing the brochure with your school.
Let’s create a better future, one school at a time.
Contact us at guides@greenschoolsalliance.org if you have a free resource to contribute or recommend that can help schools take action around this specific sustainability metric.