Getting to School a Greener Way

You may not think driving to school comes with a significant carbon cost. After all, in Beverly, you’re likely to only be a couple of miles away. But to offset the emissions from a school year’s worth of four-mile round trips you’d need to plant over half an acre of forest. (Want to play around with greenhouse gas emission equivalencies to understand your personal impact? The EPA has a great tool.)

Full infographic from Smart Move is available here

So what are your options to reduce the carbon footprint of the daily school commute? The first and easiest is to simply have your kids take the bus. Even a gas-powered school bus represents a significant reduction in GHG emissions: each bus means over thirty fewer cars on the road. And even better, Beverly Public Schools is working towards a goal of converting its entire fleet from gasoline to electric. In 2020, the city leased its first all-electric school bus, and a second should be on the road this year.

Out-of-pocket costs for busing in Beverly range from none to very low especially weighed against your gas savings. For K-6 students living more than two miles from their school, buses are always free, and for everyone else, the fee is $315 per year (capped at $630 per family, and financial assistance is available). 

For older children who live relatively close to school, walking and cycling are of course the lowest-carbon impact options. There are bike racks at all Beverly schools, awesome local businesses that can help with gear, service, and education (sustainability-focused Centraal Cycle and Beverly Bikes), and an ever-expanding network of trails and bike-safe routes in the city.

If driving remains your (or their) only option, consider whether an electric vehicle could fit your family’s needs and budget. EVs are excellent choices for local commutes and Beverly has installed public charging stations at municipal lots throughout the city, at Beverly High School, and at Ryal Side Elementary. Charging spaces are available 24 hours per day at Washington Street and Pond Street lots, and during non-school hours at the schools (in session, those areas are restricted to school employees and students at the high school).

To find out more about the costs of owning and maintaining an electric vehicle, check out this recent article from Consumer Reports. They found that “when total ownership cost is considered—including such factors as purchase price, fueling costs, and maintenance expenses—EVs come out ahead” of traditional gas-powered cars. Fuel savings, maintenance savings, and slower depreciation mean EV ownership might be more in reach than you think.

However you choose to get your children to school this year, we hope you do it in the way that is most environmentally friendly while suited to your family’s individual needs. Remember that Green Beverly offers free consultation on lower-carbon transportation options: get in touch with our experts today.