Last year,
more than
12,000
Triangle
drivers took
the Challenge
and saved
over 1.7
million pounds
of CO2. That
is the annual carbon
footprint of
43 Americans,
or about 4
softball teams!
What is the Challenge? ABOUT THE CHALLENGE
The SmartCommute Challenge is an annual six-week regional campaign (April 15 – May 30) coordinated by GoTriangle and SmartCommute@rtp. The goal of the campaign is to encourage Triangle commuters to try an alternative commute (not driving alone) to work or campus such as riding the bus, carpooling, vanpooling, teleworking, biking or walking.
The Challenge is about more than asking people to try a more environmentally friendly, cheaper, and less stressful commute for a day. During the 2008 SmartCommute Challenge over 77% of participants were willing to continue their smart commute at least once a week! Regional transit ridership records were broken during the campaign, 5 new vanpools were started, and over 1,000 Triangle commuters registered to find a carpool partner.
We need your help to make the 2009 campaign a success! This year’s theme is “Go Green!” and focuses on sustainability and green transportation options. Our goal is to reduce the carbon footprint of Triangle commuters and increase awareness of greener commute choices. During the 2008 campaign, 865 metric tons of CO2 was reduced and with your help we will increase this to 2.2 million pounds reduced for the 2009 campaign. That is equivalent to 200 people not driving their cars for a year (assuming each person drives an average of 13,000 miles/year) or 74,285 people not driving their cars for one day (that is the equivalent of all of the adults in Cary staying home.) SOURCE: NCGREENPOWER
From April 15 through May 30, any employee or college student who commutes to work or campus in Durham, Orange or Wake counties can participate. To enter the Challenge, make your online pledge that you will carpool, vanpool, bike or walk, ride the bus, or telework (work from home) at least once before May 30.
New this Year
NEW GRAND PRIZE: In the past, the Grand Prize for the Challenge was a trip for two anywhere in the continental U.S. plus a week’s hotel stay. Because this year’s theme is Go Green, we asked past Challenge takers to suggest a greener grand prize. They came up with some great ideas: a home energy conservation package, a train trip or ‘stay-cation’ at the Umstead Hotel, and carbon off-set credits. We got so many different ideas, we couldn’t choose just one. So, we decided to offer $2,500 as our grand prize so this year’s Challenge participants could dream up their own green dream prize. More details on all of this year’s fabulous prizes.
THE TEAM CHALLENGE: This year, for the first time, we are challenging current smart commuters to go greener by recruiting their friends to take the Challenge and try a smarter commute. Environmental and community groups can also get in on the action! More details on the Team Challenge.
NEW PLEDGE OPTION – CARPOOL IN AN ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLE: To go along with our Go Green theme this year, we are offering a new way to take the Challenge: Carpool in an alternative fuel, electric or hybrid vehicle. We’ve got a special prize that only these extra-environmentally friendly commuters can win: a supped-up iPod for your car! Learn more about eligible alternative fuels, hybrids and electric vehicles.
MORE COMMUNITY EVENTS: The Challenge team will be EVERYWHERE this April and May, including six Durham Bulls Home Games! Come by and say hi! We’ve got some fun Challenge presents for you. Check out our events calendar.
