Driving down your carbon emissions

Often we have no choice but to drive, even thoughwe know it causes greenhouse gas emissions. Despite this there are certainsimple steps you can take to reduce your impact on climate change. Below you’llfind 10 top tips for reducing your emissions while driving.

1. Turn the engine off when you are stuck in traffic for long periods. If you're stuck in traffic for more than a minute or so it's better to turn your engine off in order to reduce your carbon emissions.
2. Rather than leaving your engine running when waiting to pick up or drop off passengers turn your engine off instead.
3. Reducing your speed can radically reduce the amount of green house gases you produce. Traveling at 56 mph rather than 70 mph reduces your fuel use by around 10% and if you dropped your speed from 70mph to 50mph you would reduce the carbon emitted by your car by a whopping 25%.
4. If you drive more smoothly, instead of accelerating and braking all the time, you can significantly reduce your carbon emissions. It has been estimated that those who drive smoothly and intelligently can save a staggering 30% of fuel consumption compared with those with a heavy right foot. By keeping your distance from the car in front and monitoring the traffic ahead you can slow down efficiently and avoid constant use of the break.
5. Ensure that your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure, you can find the required pressure in your owner's manual. According to figures provided by the RAC under inflated tyres increase resistance and can increase fuel consumption by up to 2%.
6. Sharing car journeys reduces the number of cars on the road but nearly 40% of car journeys only have one occupant in the car. Check out Liftshare.org to find travel companies and share travel costs.
7. Avoid carrying unnecessary heavy items, such as tool kits or golf clubs. The more weight you're carrying in the car, the more fuel is used per mile and the greater the carbon emissions per journey.
8. If you are not using them remove roof racks and/or bull bars. Not only do they add to the weight of the car but these items also increase air resistance, adding up to 5% to your fuel consumption.
9. If you have air conditioning fitted try and minimise its use. At slower speeds open your car windows and ventilate the car naturally instead. Be aware that at higher speeds open windows can create significant drag, so it is better to use the car's conventional air ventilation system or air con if really necessary. Air conditioning can add around 10% to your fuel consumption.
10. Regularly servicing, in accordance with the manufactures mileage recommendations, ensures that you car runs as efficiently as possible, thus maximising its performance and fuel efficiency and minimising emissions. A regular service will save you money in the long run, as the car should last longer as well as running far more economically.