Sustainable Parking Solutions

2 min read

Originally published on Parking Industry Insights

solar panels in a parking lot overtop cars

Parking operations undoubtedly have an impact on your organization’s environmental footprint. You might find yourself thinking: How can parking be sustainable? How can my parking operation reduce my carbon footprint? How can my parking operation help me achieve LEED points?

With their large expanses of concrete and asphalt, parking lots seem like the antithesis of sustainability. But these operations actually present a number of sustainability opportunities that can contribute to an organization’s environmental goals. 

Find out how you can preserve the environment for the next generation by incorporating smart sustainable practices in your daily operations—and reduce your organization’s carbon footprint in the process.

Below are some ways to do just that:

  • EV charging solutions: Nearly 25% of greenhouse gas emissions are caused by transportation. That’s why the Canadian government and car manufacturers have taken steps to help reduce their emissions output. With the steady increase of EV drivers in Canada, EV charging stations are no longer a nice-to-have, but a need-to-have. Installing EV charging stations is also a great way to collect LEED points.

  • Solar-powered parking meters: Today’s leading parking meter solutions always come with solar panel integrations, allowing your parking meters to operate autonomously using solar power and wireless communications. This eliminates high electrical use and output.

  • Shuttle services and ride-sharing programs: Carpooling and shuttle services reduce the number of vehicles on the road, which helps to decrease the amount of emissions released into the air from driving vehicles. Your parking operation should encourage ride sharing and shuttle services with a rewards program.

  • Energy-efficient lighting: LED lights use significantly less energy compared to fluorescent and incandescent lights. That’s why your parking services provider should install LED lighting as standard practice. If your parking facility isn’t currently using LED lights, ask your parking provider if it can assist with lighting retrofits in order to lower energy consumption.

  • Painting and signage: Your parking service provider should be controlling the products and production methods it uses when doing painting of any kind and/or implementing wayfinding solutions. As a bonus, good way-finding gets cars to their spots faster reducing carbon emissions. 

Reducing your organization's carbon footprint through its parking operation can be easy. It all comes down to adopting a sustainable mindset. Talk to your parking operator or supplier about how you can introduce sustainability measures at your lots.

Justin Powell

Director, Precise ParkLink

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