Be a Green Driver
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Let’s face it. No matter how much we care about the environment or how much awareness is generated about the reality of climate change, cars aren’t going anywhere. Even though the greenest thing to do is not drive at all, it is a necessary evil of our modern world. According to National Geographic – “Most of our automobiles’ environmental impact, perhaps 80 to 90 %, will be due to fuel consumption and emissions of air pollution and greenhouse gases that climate scientists say are driving global warming. Fortunately, the level of that impact is very much under the control of the driver.”
Short of buying a hybrid car, driving more efficiently will not only save us money on fuel consumption and car repairs but also minimize the impact on the environment.
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Need for Speed
Fast driving leads to constant acceleration and braking, which drastically reduces fuel efficiency by as much as 33 % on the highway and 5 % when driving around town, according to EnviormentalHeadlines.com. This happens because inertia is required when you start or stop aggressively. The more you do it the more fuel you burn thus releasing more CO2 into the atmosphere.
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Declutter
It’s a no-brainer that more energy is required to displace heavier objects. The loaded the car, the higher is the fuel consumption, which is hardly an efficient driving practice. So, take a look at your trunk, remove all that extra unneeded baggage along with any additional roof rack.
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Right Gear
Gear and fuel economy go hand-in-hand. In case of all manual transmission cars, it is very crucial to drive at the right gear – driving on a high gear at low speed or vice versa is going to result in decreased fuel efficiency. Shift gears smoothly and as soon as is required.
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Maintained Car
It cannot be emphasised enough how vital it is to keep your car tuned up. If not maintained regularly your car will guzzle up gas like a glutton. Make sure to change engine oil regularly & keep air-filters clean. You won’t regret the trip to the body shop.
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Unnecessary Idling
If you are not moving for a few minutes or waiting in a long jam of traffic, keeping your car running is like a pointless punch on the environment. Despite what many of us wrongly believe, idling for just 10 seconds burns more fuel than restarting the engine. Exhaust only contributes to pollution so turn off your engine.
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Properly Inflated Tyre
If your car’s tyre is not filled to its recommended pressure, this will only lead to reduces mileage resulting in higher fuel consumption. Keep your tyres properly inflated to optimize the levels of rolling resistance and avoid such unnecessary emissions.
