Greener Driving

It’s a good idea to buy a vehicle with an engine that’s 1.4 litres or smaller.  All new cars have to meet European standards in terms of exhaust emissions, one reason why new cars are less likely to pollute than an older car.    

It’s also possible to buy a car that runs on biofuels, but before you do it’s a good idea to check the availability of the appropriate biofuel in your area. 

An alternative is to have your petrol engine car converted to run on liquid petroleum gas (LPG), which lowers the toxic emissions.  It costs about £1,000 to convert but it’s cheaper to run.  Your car could also be converted to run on compressed natural gas (CNG), which results in even lower toxic chemical emissions. 

Diesel engines are more fuel efficient and emit lower levels of CO2 then petrol engines, while petrol engines produce less toxic emissions. 

For more information go to www.direct.gov.uk and click on ‘Greener Travel’.  Direct Line also has tips and information that can assist in travelling greener.

Save fuel

Save fuel through a couple of simple changes.  Tyres that are under inflated create more of a resistance which raises fuel consumption.  Check tyre pressure on a regular basis and keep them at the optimal pressure.  Wheel alignment should also be checked regularly to reduce drag and old tyres can be replaced with energy saving tyres. 

Take care

It takes a little bit of work and care to look after your car.  Send your car in for servicing regularly, ask the technicians to check that the air filter is clean, that the fuel and ignition systems are operating efficiently and that the oil is changed using the correct grade.  This all helps to keep your car running smoothly and to use fuel efficiently.

Final checks

Travel light to improve fuel consumption, don’t carry anything unnecessary in the back seat or boot. 

On a hot day, don’t automatically turn the air conditioning on, hold off as long as possible.  Likewise, don’t switch on the heated windscreen unless absolutely necessary. 

Don’t wait for the engine to warm up before driving, it only increases the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.  Switch off the engine if sitting for more than three minutes in traffic.

And drive smoothly, avoid braking suddenly or accelerating rapidly. 

Don’t drive at all

Is your journey really necessary? If possible, walk, cycle or use public transport to reach your destination.  The more people that do so the more the environment will benefit.