Green Driving Tips - Helping the environment

• Switch to energy saving light bulbs. They last around 10 times longer than ordinary light bulbs, and each bulb could save up to £60 over the bulb’s lifetime.
• Reduce draughts and wasted heat by fitting cheap, easy-to-fix seals on exterior doors. Letter boxes and keyholes can be covered too.
• Insulate your hot water tank with a jacket to save on your heating.
• Insulating your loft is one of the simplest ways to save energy – within a year you could save over £100.
• Insulate wall cavities to save money and create an even temperature in your home. A third of the heat lost in an un-insulated house is through the walls.
• When buying new electrical appliances, look for the Energy Saving Recommended logo. These products are the most energy efficient in their category.
• Switch off electrical appliances and phone chargers, rather than leaving on stand-by.
• Recycle where ever possible.Always check packaging for details, and shopaccordingly.
• Use water sparingly at work, home and in the garden.

Use fuel efficiently

The most important action you can take to reduce CO2 is to use fuel as sparingly as possible:

• Start the engine without using the accelerator.
• Don’t leave the engine running to ‘warm up’.Vehicles today are designed to warm up fast, so there is no need to leave the engine running for 5 minutes on cold mornings.
• Avoid unnecessary idling – don’t leave the engine running if you are waiting and not in traffic.
• Turn your engine off in traffic queues if it looks like more than a few minutes wait.
• Drive in the highest gear possible without labouring the engine.
• Drive more smoothly: avoid excessive acceleration and heavy braking. Not only will this reduce your vehicle’s overall fuel use, it will also reduce wear and tear.
• Change up through the gears at relatively low engine revs. Refer to your owner’s manual for the optimum gearshift points for manual cars.
• Avoid using air conditioning unless really necessary. Most systems need to be run regularly but not all the time.

Plan your route

• Short trips (less than 6 miles) can increase fuel consumption by 20% in summer and 50% in winter. Plan your route to include all the places you need to go, rather than making lots of separate journeys.
• If possible, avoid rush-hour and roads known for their heavy traffic. A crawling vehicle releases three times more smog-producing emissions.
• Offer and share lifts to minimise journeys. Maintain correct tyre pressure
• Refer to your handbook and check tyre pressure regularly particularly before long journeys. The extra resistance caused by under inflated tyres uses more fuel.

Optimise fuel economy

• The optimum fuel economy for most vehicles is achieved at a steady speed of between 50 and 60 mph (speed limit permitting). Miles per gallon (mpg) decreases sharply above 58 mph.

Remove excess weight

• Remove unnecessary weight from your boot. Reduce unnecessary drag
• Roof racks and roof boxes that are not permanently fixed to the vehicle should be removed when not being used.

Maintain your car

• Check your car regularly for fluid leaks such as oil, grease, coolant, transmission and brake fluid. They are all harmful to the environment.We will be delighted to undertake these checks for you.
• Never dispose of radiator antifreeze or coolant down a drain. These substances contain ethylene glycol, which is poisonous to fish and other wildlife as well as humans. Put it in a sturdy container and dispose of in an environmentally responsible manner. Many repair facilities accept these items or contact your local council recycling sites.

Choice of car

• It is now much easier to choose low emission and economical vehicles.
• Compare models and classes. Even similarly sized cars can vary in fuel efficiency up to 45% – check the miles per gallon (mpg).
• Consider diesel cars that have lower or zero CO2 emissions. They are also more tax efficient