10 ways to cut your carbon emissions on the road
Learn to drive green from the pros, with the global Make Cars Green environmental campaign from the Formula 1 governing body, Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). Launched in 2008 with the support of Bridgestone (did you know that under-inflated tires cost Canadian light-duty vehicle owners almost 643 million litres of fuel annually?), the campaign is urging the UN to adopt the first-ever worldwide target for CO2 emissions in passenger cars. It's also working to educate drivers about more eco-friendly and fuel-efficient driving techniques through collaborations with its country partners, including the Canadian Automobile Association.
Here are the FIA's top 10 tips for green motoring to save you money and prolong the life of your car.
1. Buy green
When purchasing a car you should always take into consideration environmental performance. Buy an appropriately sized car for your needs. A more efficient greener car will cost less to run. The FIA Foundation's EcoTest can provide you with an easy to understand star rating system that evaluates the environmental performance of new car models.2. Plan your journey
A well-planned journey will allow you to get to your destination in the quickest and easiest way, saving on unnecessary fuel emissions. Consider that 10 minutes of unnecessary driving in a one-hour trip results in a 14 percent decrease in fuel efficiency. For short journeys see if it is possible to cycle, use public transport or walk. Fitting Global Positioning System (GPS) in your car can allow you to know in advance the easiest route to a set destination. 3. Check tire pressures frequently
A well-inflated tire decreases the rolling resistance and thereby increases efficiency. Driving on tires with air pressure at 50 kPa lower than it should be decreases fuel efficiency by 2 percent and 4 percent respectively in urban and suburban areas. Consider fitting your car with tire pressure monitoring systems that allow you to know when you need to refill your tires. A correctly inflated tire increases the grip on the road and therefore is not only a greener, but a safer tire. 4. Reduce loads and avoid the need for roof racks
Extra weight increases the consumption of fuel as does increased air resistance.Driving with 100 kg of unnecessary onboard weight leads to a significant decrease in fuel efficiency of around 6 percent on a medium class car. Check for unnecessary items in the trunk of the car, such as luggage or overly large goods. Modern cars are built with aerodynamics in mind; a sky carrier on top of a car can increase gas consumption by 20 percent. 5. Don't warm up your engine before starting off
Modern cars no longer need to be warmed up before starting off, only in extremely cold conditions. Slow running may be required after starting the engine; this style of driving will also increase fuel efficiency. Modern cars constructed with a fuel injection engine no longer require the accelerator to be pushed when starting up. Doing so will only confuse the on-board systems and increase fuel consumption. 6. Use air conditioning only when necessary
Avoid setting AC to low, as AC uses a lot of power from the car. When the outdoor temperature is 25°C, AC decreases fuel efficiency by 12 percent. When it is safe to do so, opening the windows in town driving is more efficient than using AC. However, the opposite is true when driving at high speed due to air resistance. Other in car devices, such as sound systems, also increases consumption. 7. Accelerate gently and keep your speed constant
Gentle driving uses less fuel, is safer and will allow you and your passengers to reach your destination in more comfort. Start off gently (20 km/h in 5 seconds, for an 11 percent increase in fuel economy) and avoid abrupt, heavy accelerations while driving. Avoid tailgating as it causes unnecessary acceleration/deceleration which costs 2 percent and 6 percent less fuel efficiency respectively in urban and suburban areas. Use the highest gears possible in any given situation. 8. Use engine braking
Using the natural braking power of engines saves on fuel economy. Releasing the accelerator when recognizing the need to slow down stops the fuel supply leading to a 2 percent increase in fuel efficiency. Engine braking also has the added bonus of reducing wear and tear on the brakes.
9. Don't idle your engine
When you are not using the engine of the car it is still using fuel. Idling for more than a minute uses more fuels than is needed to restart the engine. 10 minutes of engine idling (in neutral, with the AC off) wastes 130 cc of fuel. 10. Offset your CO2 emissions
CO2 production as a result of transport is often unavoidable; if you do drive you can still contribute to CO2 reduction by offsetting emissions. For more tips on fuel-efficient driving in Canada, visit the CAA's tip sheet.
