Greener Choices

Greenest Transportation Choice

Motorcoaches are the most fuel-efficient and least energy intensive mode of commercial passenger transportation. Motorcoaches get approximately 5 times better fuel efficiency per passenger than a car will. Help conserve our environment by taking a Brown Coach motorcoach. (learn more about the GREENEST Transportation Choice...)

Each year, motorcoaches reduce congestion and pollution by taking more than 425 million cars off the road.

Coaches are the most fuel-efficient and least energy intensive mode of commercial passenger transportation.

Motorcoach passenger miles per gallon of fuel is highest amongst transportation choices with 184 passenger miles per gallon, more than four times greater than air carrier and passenger car fuel efficiency - and increasing.

Motorcoaches emit the least carbon dioxide (CO2) per passenger mile when compared to other vehicles and are on average 6 times more energy and fuel-efficient than single occupancy automobiles.

Carbon dioxide emissions are reduced by an average of 85% per passenger mile for every person who chooses motorcoach travel instead of driving alone.

Top Five Rules of Thumb for Green Travel

Our "Getting There Greener" analysis enabled us to create “rules of thumb” to help guide your initial travel choices, and to help you shrink your carbon footprint once you have made those choices. Let’s start with the top travel tips, a

nd then look more closely at each travel mode:

Motor coaches and trains are a carbon bargain. Whether traveling with a family, with a partner, or alone, those seeking a carbon bargain should seriously consider rail and motor coach travel. Intercity bus options have been on the upswing, as numerous regional carriers now provide coaches with very comfortable seats. And Amtrak offers everything from high-speed rail service in the Northeast to “auto trains” that enable long-distance travel without the wear and tear on your automobile. From a carbon perspective, motor coaches and trains are among your lowest-emission options, especially on shorter (less than 500-mile) trips. Moreover, because motor coaches and trains are often underused, they may offer what amounts to a carbon “free ride.”

Big SUVs and first-class flights usually have the largest carbon footprints. Driving alone, driving inefficient SUVs (with or without other people), and flying first-class are the most polluting ways to go. To reduce your vacation’s carbon footprint, consider other options.

For couples and solo travelers, a nonstop coach flight almost always beats an average car. Carbon from cars and trucks adds up, especially when those vehicles travel long distances and are only partially occupied. If you’re traveling alone or with one other person, you’re usually better off flying direct in coach than getting behind the wheel of a passenger vehicle. This is especially true for trips of more than 500 miles.

To significantly reduce your carbon footprint behind the wheel, drive or rent a more efficient car. If you don’t own a fuel-efficient vehicle, think about renting one when driving on longer trips. The carbon emissions from a large, inefficient SUV are nearly four times those of a high-miles-per-gallon hybrid such as the Toyota Prius. If hybrids are not available, look into efficient conventional cars, which can ease the environmental harm while cutting your gasoline bill. Many car rental agencies now offer both hybrids and efficient conventional vehicles. Take advantage of them, and take some wear and tear off your car.

Avoid traveling during peak periods. Congestion has a noticeable effect on your fuel consumption and carbon footprint. When a car or SUV is stuck in traffic, its fuel consumption rate can be double the rate it gets at steady cruising speeds. So think about getting a GPS unit for your car that can alert you to traffic hot spots in real time and suggest ways to avoid them. (Some sell for as little as $150.) And think about changing your vacation schedule to avoid peak travel periods that keep you stuck in traffic.

Now that you’ve decided whether to fly, drive, or take a train or motor coach, consider the following additional rules of thumb from our analysis of each travel mode, to shave your emissions even further.Carbon Emissions Depend on the Auto.

Notes: Assumes a 46-mpg hybrid car, 32-mpg efficient car, 23-mpg typical car, 18-mpg typical SUV, and 12-mpg worst SUV. 

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