Now more than ever, it’s important the we all assess our daily habits and routines to see if we could be living greener lives. Global warming is already wreaking havoc in a whole host of ways, according to The Guardian. Among other things, the polar ice caps are melting, Venice is in danger of being flooded, and our food chains are being disrupted.
Passenger cars and vans are responsible for 17% of the UK’s total carbon dioxide emissions, according to the Committee on Climate Change. This means that, if you’re interested in adopting a greener lifestyle, putting effort into becoming an eco-friendlier driver is a great place to start.
Here, we’ve put together our top three tips for driving more efficiently. This will reduce the amount of pollution your car emits, and could save you some money too. Read on to learn more.
Always follow your car’s service schedule
It’s very important that you get your car serviced regularly. Not only will this reduce the risk of you breaking down and help to prevent accidents, but it will also ensure that your vehicle is running as efficiently as possible. Despite these benefits, a surprising number of people still neglect to have their cars checked on a regular basis.
It’s also vital that you maintain your car between services. As part of this, you should keep your motor oil topped up, monitor the condition of your tyres, and replace your air filter whenever it’s worse for wear. If you aren’t particularly confident carrying out your own checks and maintenance, car retailer Lookers has a selection of car maintenance how-to guides that explain everything very clearly. They’ll tell you everything you need to know.
Start to plan your journeys
If you can reduce the amount of time you spend stuck in traffic jams, you’ll immediately become a more eco-friendlier driver, as your engine will spend much less time idling. To do this, you’ll have to put some extra thought and planning into the journeys you make.
The AA offers a handy route planner that will help you to plan journeys that avoid the likes of roadworks, traffic, and incidents that might hold you up. So, whether you have a lengthy journey coming up or simply want to ensure you’re taking the best route to work, you should check the roads before you leave home.
Remove excess weight from your car
Clutter can easily build up in your car if you don’t keep a close eye on it. While this might not seem like too much of a problem to you, it can affect how much fuel your journeys use. In fact, every extra 50kg of weight that you’re driving around with can increase your fuel consumption by approximately 2%, according to the RAC.
Having a clear-out every three months or so should help to ensure that you aren’t driving around with too much extra weight in your car. By simply removing large items from your boot and taking any unused storage boxes or bike racks off your car, you can reduce how much pollution it emits.
If you want to do your bit for the environment and reduce your contributions to climate change, altering your driving habits is a great place to start. Take these three tips on board and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a greener driver.
