5 ways to becoming a “green” driver
In a previous article, we interviewed Nicol Louw from CAR magazine, about CO2 emissions.
The truth is that with every sip of fuel that you car uses, its exhaust releases carbon dioxide (CO2 emissions). However, the good news is that you don’t need to drive a hybrid to be a ”green” driver- you can easily minimise your carbon footprint by following these 5 simple steps.
1. Do your homework
If you’re shopping around for a new car, check out the specified CO2 emissions as they differ from vehicle to vehicle. A car with fewer emissions should also be more economical, so you’ll be saving money as well as the planet.
2. Plan your travelling
Drive less by running a number of errands on one trip, and shop near home or order over the Internet. Try to avoid peak-hour traffic as stop-start driving uses more fuel.
3. Drive economically
Drive in the highest gear possible, anticipate changes in the traffic flow (so you don’t have to slam on brakes and then waste fuel accelerating again) and don’t speed – high speeds lead to high fuel consumption. Remember your tyres: having the correct tyre pressure can save lots of fuel.
4. Tune your engine properly
If the engine is properly tuned, it will operate more efficiently and use less fuel as a result.
5. Do your sums A diesel car is not necessarily more ‘green’ than one with a petrol engine. Figures provided by the Australian government show that the 2,3kg of CO2 emissions per litre of petrol rises to 2,7kg for diesel. But engines designed to operate on diesel tend to be more fuel- efficient than petrol engines, so it is possible to save emissions by driving a diesel car. Do the calculations for each car you’re considering before you buy.