Taking public transit is a fast and easy way to reduce the amount of carbon that you release into the air every year. According to the American Public Transportation Association taking public transit instead of driving is the best thing one can do to cut their CO2 emissions.

That personal carbon reduction deserves a closer look. Twenty pounds a day works out to more than 4,800 pounds a year, assuming a 240-day work week. That impact is much greater than many other changes people are frequently encouraged to make, including weatherizing the home and adjusting the thermostat (about 2,800 pounds a year); replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents (about 90 pounds per bulb a year); and replacing an old refrigerator with a high-efficiency one (about 335 pounds a year).