18 July 2008
Discover easy ways to reduce the impact of your driving
What’s the issue?
Cars are relied on a huge amount. They can take us from door to door in comfort and when we please. They also one of the biggest contributors to global warming, poor air quality, congestion and noise pollution. This of course has a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of ourselves, other organisms and habitats as well as the planet. Road transport accounts for 22% of total UK emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2). If you really want to make a positive difference then one of the best things you can do is consider whether you really need a car. If so, here are a few ways that you can green-up your driving.
1. Cars
Most needs can be fulfilled by hybrids. Their emissions are cleaner and they get better mileage than their more commonplace alternatives, which will save you money too! Hybrids aren’t always the most energy efficient option. Biodiesel is a clean, domestic, vegetable based, carbon-neutral fuel that will work in any diesel car or lorry with little if any modification required to the engine. Vegetable oil is an option for the more ambitious green driver and can really cut down refilling costs or alternatively you could opt for a flex-fuel car that uses ethanol. More and more affordable and practical electric cars and plug-in hybrids are coming onto the market too. Your next best option is to look for a car that has the best miles per gallon around. In the meantime…
2. Habits
Did you know that the way you drive also affects fuel consumption? Ways that you can improve this is to avoid sudden starts and stops and going at the speed limit. If you can, maintain your RPM between 1,200—3,000, and move up a gear between 2,000—2500 RPMs. Also, try to minimize unnecessary miles by doing all your jobs in one trip, have the best directions. Perhaps try to reduce air resistance and unnecessary loads by thinking about how much your windows are open (although this is better than using air-conditioning see below) and if you still need the roof rack on the car or those old boxes in the boot.
3. Car Service
Making sure that you get your car serviced regularly is important too. Tires at the right pressure, having clean air filters etc will all help to use less fuel.
4. Carbon Offsets
There are many websites that you can use to calculate the amount of carbon you burn in your car each year or journey. The one we use here at Leaf Living is www.climatecare.org
5. Car sharing
The more people you can fit in the car to reduce the number of cars on the road, the better. There are a number of schemes available such as www.catcharide.co.uk
6. Alternatives
Always question whether an alternative is available – can you walk, cycle, take public transport?
7. Part alternatives?
Ok, so if going all the way by one the alternatives above just isn’t realistic, how about taking the car for some of the way and using an alternative for the rest of the journey?
8. Reduce the AC
Ideally, you want to keep you car cool by opening the windows rather than by using air-conditioning. However, you could try other ways too like an electric or solar fan, parking in the shade and using a reflective windshield shade.
9. Telecommuting
With better and better internet services, it might be possible to stay at home! Some jobs or meetings could possibly be done using instant messaging, video chat, teleconferencing, even say one day a week? It works for us here at Leaf Living so maybe this is another way you could use the car less?
10. Best of all…
Car sharing, public transport, alternatives or part alternatives, offsetting, lightening your load, changing your driving habits, telecommuting can all help to reduce the really harmful affects of driving. However, better than using all of these tips is of course…not to use the car at all. It may take a re-think about your, job, or where you live but this is the goal we want to aspire to :)
Original sources/ further information: www.environmental-protection.org.uk www.treehugger.com
« Go Back