What comes to mind when you think of a company’s sustainability policy?
Most likely, the first things you think of are reducing electricity consumption, recycling, and ensuring that processes are as green as possible.
But what about parking? Of course, the above functions are important, but parking can also play a huge role in an organization’s journey towards its sustainability milestones.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss how enterprises – both big and small – can use it to be more environmentally aware.
Let’s get started.
What is sustainability?
According to the United Nations, sustainability is “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
In other words, it’s about being conscious of the impact our actions on the environment around us and taking steps to reduce that impact.
Although achieving climate goals seems daunting, there are small steps that every organization can take to make a big difference.
One of those steps is around their parking management. Solutions like Wayleadr’s parking management platform help organizations implement data-driven policies that reduce emissions while maximizing space efficiency.
What is sustainable parking?
Transportation accounts for 64% of oil consumption worldwide, 27% of overall energy usage, and 23% of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. Hence why we are looking towards vehicles and how we use them for an opportunity to become more sustainable.
How does where we store our cars enter the equation?
Sustainable parking, or green parking, uses vegetation, eco-friendly paving materials, stormwater practices, and vegetation to combat the negative environmental effects of traditional parking lots ).
It can also include energy-efficient lighting and implementing policies that ensure there is less congestion to and from your car parks. A useful tool for the latter point is last mile automation.
Be more green with last mile automation
Last mile automation gives your company the opportunity to create and implement car parking policies that focus on environmental sustainability.
These can include incentives for staff to use their cars less during the working week, the pre booking of spaces (which causes staff to spend less time on their commute), and the management of hybrid workers.
With last mile automation, employers can use data to spread out the times that those hybrid workers are in the office, which can reduce congestion and emissions on the roads around the local community.
Benefits of sustainable parking
When communities have a more sustainable outlook towards parking, they reap a host of benefits. Here are just a few, per the Montgomery County Planning Commission:
- Reduced emissions: Sustainable parking reduces carbon dioxide emissions and air pollution.
- Improved water quality: Sustainable parking lots diminish stormwater runoff and keep pollutants from vehicles (grease, drip oil, coolants, etc.) and parking lot surfaces (road salts, tar-coating sealants, etc.) out of waterways.
- Low energy costs: Energy-efficient policies on parking can help save money on energy bills (energy saving lighting, etc), as well as providing a more efficient use of your space due to a pre-booking system.
- Efficient land use: By employing last mile automation and pre booking systems, each one of your spaces can be in use and not sitting idle. This ensures you are using your lot efficiently, but also that your staff spend less time in their vehicles each day.
- Increased safety: 20% of pedestrian injuries happen in parking lots, but sustainable and well managed parking lots reduce that number, partially because there is less confusion.
- Reduce heat island effect: Sustainable parking lots lessen the scorching temperatures of asphalt parking lots (20-40 degrees hotter than the surrounding air temperature) by using vegetation and eco-friendly paving materials.
How to advance parking sustainability milestones alongside last mile automation
Organizations can make other contributions alongside their last mile automation software. No matter the milestones, there’s a parking solution to help organizations achieve them.
Plant Grass
Grass in parking lots helps reduce stormwater runoff, improve water quality, and combat the heat island effect.
Utilize Eco-Friendly Paint
Biodegradable paints for parking lot stripping don’t contain hazardous Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) – xylene, ammonia, glycol, etc. – that damage the environment. Instead, they’re made from renewable materials such as citrus oils and linseed oil. Additionally, they have only 0-1% VOC, making them much better for the environment.
Install Solar Panels
Companies can install solar panels on parking lot roofs to generate renewable energy and reduce emissions. They are a great way for organizations to be sustainable and save money on energy bills.
Leverage Pervious Concrete
Pervious concrete allows water to drain through it, which means no more puddles in parking lots. Its water flow rates are at least 3 to 8 gallons per square foot per minute and have a strength of 500-4,000 pounds per square inch. As a result, it’s perfect for various applications.
Use LED Lighting
LED lighting is up to 70% more energy efficient than traditional lighting, lessening the carbon footprint of your business substantially. LED lighting also lasts longer – – so organizations will save money on replacement and maintenance costs. And since they don’t contain mercury, they’re safer for the environment.
Final words
Sustainable parking is essential for organizations that want to reduce their environmental impact and save money.
With the last mile automation software and other solutions, any enterprise can achieve its sustainability milestones and reduce emissions, conserve energy, and cut waste.
Contact Wayleadr today today if you want to know how last mile automation can assist you with this.
Looking to reduce your commuter carbon footprint? Check out this blog – How employers are using parking software to fight climate change
Futureproofing your commuter culture isn’t just good for the environment, it also can save a lot of money for your business. Learn more with this blog – Reduced costs to environmental benefits: how last mile automation can help your business
What do the commutes of the future look like? Discover more with this blog – How last mile automation can change driving culture at your workplace
For practical implementation steps, see our guide on reducing carbon footprint with sustainable parking practices.
Sustainability is one of nine parking challenges that technology solves. See the full list in our guide to 9 parking problems solved by technology.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does parking management help sustainability?
By reducing circling emissions (5-10% of commute CO2), enabling EV charger rotation to maximize green vehicle adoption, encouraging carpooling through integrated matching, and providing data for ESG reporting.
Can parking data be used for ESG reporting?
Yes. Modern platforms track commute mode splits, EV charging sessions, carpool participation, and emissions estimates — all exportable for sustainability reports and Net Zero progress tracking.
What is the environmental impact of parking searches?
Vehicles circling for parking produce unnecessary emissions and contribute to local air quality issues. Studies estimate up to 30% of urban congestion comes from parking searches. Reservation systems eliminate this entirely.
