Did you know that, according to The Energy Saving Trust, “by driving smarter” the average UK driver could save between £300 and £350 each year? To drive smarter essentially means to drive more economically, which not only helps save you money, but it helps to protect our environment too by reducing your vehicle emissions. An obvious way to keep your emissions low would be to purchase an economically friendly car, which not only reduces the impact on the environment but also comes with the added benefits of low or zero road tax. However, we realise that it isn’t always realistic to simply “go and buy a new car” as not everyone is in the position to do so, so here are six ways you can be more environmentally responsible, in any vehicle you drive:
By building up your speed gradually, shifting gears smoothly and braking steadily when required, you can make a real difference to your rate of fuel consumption, reducing the frequency of filling up your tank and the ultimately, your carbon footprint, by reducing the amount of burnt fuel fumes entering the atmosphere.
The slower you drive, the less fuel your vehicle burns, so try not to exceed the speed limits – a car speeding at 80mph on a motorway or dual carriageway has been shown to use approximately 10% more fuel than one driving at the 70mph speed limit.
An unnecessary load means that your vehicle will be using extra fuel, so make sure to remove any items you can from your boot if they aren’t required for your journey, particularly if they are heavy!
Air conditioning, car lights, radios, windscreen heaters and plugged-in satnavs that are turned on all contribute to extra fuel consumption, so make sure that these are turned off and unplugged when they are no longer required to ensure you are always driving as “green” as possible.
Roof boxes, roof racks, flags and chunky body kits all contribute to an increase in drag, making your car less aerodynamic and therefore less environmentally-friendly, so remove these if they are no longer required. Keeping car windows and sunroofs closed, particularly at higher speeds, will also help to reduce vehicle wind resistance and therefore fuel consumption.
By checking and servicing your car or van regularly, you can help to ensure that your engine is running efficiently and that your tyres are always properly inflated, as driving with under-inflated tyres is not only dangerous but has also been shown to increase vehicle fuel consumption by up to 15% as well.
