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‘Green’ cars have lower CO2 emissions and offer the best fuel economy. Depending on how ‘green’ a car is, it is subject to lower road taxes, and may even be exempt from congestion charges, too. Ultimately the greener a car is, the smaller its impact on the planet and your purse.
You don’t have to buy a new car to be a ‘greener’ motorist however. There are simple things you can do to cut your fuel consumption and CO2 emissions that will ultimately help you save money, too.
Can you make your child take a bus instead of using you as a taxi? Do you have to make three separate shopping trips or can it all be done in one go? The best way to be kinder to the environment is by not going anywhere in the car that you don’t have to. And of course, a bit more walking never did
anyone any harm.
If you’re one of those people who drives around with lots of unnecessary weight in the car,
ditch it! Whether it’s that microwave in the boot that you’ve been meaning to take to the rubbish tip for ages or perhaps a suitcase full of clothes and shoes in case you get invited on a last-minute trip, the more weight you are carrying the more fuel you’ll be burning. |
By keeping your tyres properly inflated you’ll save on fuel and save on the wear and tear to your tyres – meaning you could be forking out less often for replacement ones, too. Not only that, but it also improves handling and safety, so it’s well worth the effort of making sure they’re filled properly. Don’t be afraid of getting someone at the garage to check them for you to make sure that they’re at their optimum level.
The smoother the air flow around your car, the less resistance there is and therefore the less fuel you’ll use. Removing roof/bike racks when not in use and keeping the windows closed where possible on journeys will improve your fuel economy no end. A word to the wise – if you’re gasping for cool air, don’t immediately go for the air-con switch. Air conditioning will sap your power and burn fuel too. Open all the air vents and ditch those extra layers you’re wearing.
There’s nothing more annoying for a passenger to be flying around the seat because the driver is constantly accelerating and braking quickly – it also uses up more fuel too. If you’re approaching a set of lights that are on red, gradually decrease your speed, don’t go from fourth gear to first in less than 10 metres!
The faster you go, the more fuel you burn. Stick to the speed limits and you’ll save yourself money in fuel and speeding fines. If you need to speed up, use gentle pressure to build it up rather than ramming your foot down – this will again save on fuel. Similarly, if you’re stuck in traffic that isn’t going anywhere in a hurry, why have the engine running at all? 0mph should mean zero effort for your clutch foot and the car.
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