Guide to green driving
More than 80% of the total emissions from a car come from day to day use and not from the manufacturing process, so the cars we drive and the way that we drive them does have an impact on the environment.
That's great news because it means we can make a difference. The European Climate Change Programme has calculated that if all Europeans adopted eco driving, we would save 25 billion litres of fuel by 2010. Here's some useful information on how you can do your bit.
New cars are now sold with a duty band that is based on their carbon equivalent emissions by grams per kilometre. The duty that you pay on your car is based on this carbon emissions band.
The way you look after your car and your car's fuel consumption makes a big difference. By having your car regularly serviced and ensuring the engine is tuned well you will have your car running at its maximum efficiency - and you will save money.
Make sure that your tyres are always at the correct pressure so that your car does not burn excessive fuel. Low tyre pressures can increase your fuel consumption by up to 8% and tyres will last longer if they are inflated to the correct pressure. You should know what your optimal tyre pressure is (consult your user's manual if you don't know) and check regularly when you fill up with petrol.
Share car use. Check for car pools at work and school. If you are going out with some friends, why not share a car instead of everyone taking their own? These are all little things that we can do every day to make sure that our planet gets a little healthier.
