CO2 Emissions – Reinventing the Wheel… or at least its usage! By Patrick James

It’s a simple fact, that events which revolutionise motoring don’t come along every day but the issue of vehicular carbon emissions has changed how people view cars and motoring.
With the introduction of alternative fuel sources and increased awareness of the Carbon Footprint, motorists can no longer ignore the part they play in helping to reduce pollution and with all new cars registered from 1 July 2008 having their motor tax rate based on the CO2 emissions level, it’s an important factor when buying a car. Cars with a reduced carbon footprint have all of a sudden become a more attractive prospect, but any car (even a “reduced-emissions vehicle”), driven badly can have a similar negative effect on the environment as a normal engine vehicle driven correctly. This raises the question: what can we as drivers do to help lower the pollution levels?

Being ‘Green’ - Some simple tips for reducing Vehicle Emissions now!

We can all do more, as drivers, to reduce global warming and pollution from our cars.

It’s a fact: Every driver can contribute and do their part to reduce “global warming” pollution from our cars. It starts with buying the most fuel-efficient car that meets your needs and fits your budget. We should consider taking advantage of alternative transportation options as much as possible. All too often the car is the easy option!

Here are tips for reducing emissions with the car you already own.

-Lighten your conscience! Carrying around an extra 100 pounds in your car reduces your fuel economy by up to two percent. Take with you only what you need and be sure carry luggage inside the boot instead of on a roof-rack to minimize drag and maximize your mileage.

-Take it easy. Aggressive driving wastes fuel, not to mention increases stress and the risk of accidents! Rapid acceleration and braking reduces gas mileage and can burn an extra 125 gallons of petrol per annum. Conserve your horsepower and reduce your emissions.

-Take it slow. In highway travel, exceeding the speed limit by a mere five mph results is an average fuel economy loss of six percent. You are not a Formula 1 driver… You are commuting, not racing.

-Don’t be idle. Idling for more than 10 seconds uses more gas and emits more global warming pollution than restarting your car! Also, the best way to warm up a car in winter months is to drive it. When the temperature is below freezing, give it 30 seconds—that’s all you need.

-Take the Heat! Air conditioning can decrease your fuel efficiency by as much as 12 percent in stop-and-go traffic, so consider opening the windows at lower speeds. But at high speeds, driving with the windows open can decrease the overall efficiency of the vehicle. At higher speeds, you can use the vents to get a good air flow. On the hottest days keep your AC on low.

-Don’t Top-Off. When you’re refuelling, stop when the fuel pump automatically turns off. Why? Besides the embarrassing stain on your clothes, overfilling your tank can ruin your fuel-vapour recovery equipment. The recovery canister is supposed to store fuel vapours, rather than release them into the atmosphere. But if you overfill the tank and liquid fuel sloshes into the canister, it will stop working, contributing to the formation of ground-level ozone, smog, acid rain, and airborne toxins.

When it’s in the garage - Car maintenance tips.

-Keep in tune. Keeping your engine properly tuned can save you up to 165 gallons of gas per year. Checking spark plugs, oxygen sensors, air filters, hoses and belts are a few examples of maintenance that can result in potential savings of over €500 per year.

-Keep the pressure on. Low tyre pressure wastes huge amounts every day – harming the environment by warming the planet – and hurting your pocket needlessly! Save about a tank of gas a year by keeping your tyres properly inflated. And make sure to have your tyres correctly aligned to maximize fuel economy.

-Greased lightning. Thicker than required oil will reduce your gas mileage, because it takes more energy to push thick oil through the engine, than it does through thinner oil. Check your owner’s manual for the recommended viscosity, and ask for it specifically when you get your oil changed.

-Be of service! Keep your car serviced regularly. It makes sense that a healthy engine is kinder to the environment.

-Dispose of Fluids Properly. If you’re changing your own oil and doing your own DIY fluid changes, remember, our car is a veritable supermarket of toxic fluids, including brake fluid, motor oil, transmission fluid, antifreeze, and battery acid, each of which can become a toxic pollutant if not disposed of properly. Spent fluids should be taken to an authorized drop-off location.

Planning to succeed, Planning to be Greener - other tips for everyday drivers

-Combine trips. Cutting a 20 mile trip out of your schedule each week can reduce your CO2 emissions by more than 1,200 pounds a year and save you over €65 in fuel expenses a week.

-Telecommute once a week. If all commuters worked from home just one day a week, we could save 5.85 billion gallons of oil globally and cut over 65 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year.

-A problem shared. Carpool and use public transportation when possible. If you share a car or use other means to get to work, you’ll save yourself money, reduce congestion on the roads and cut your global warming pollution effects. Be kind, take the bus!

-Just park it. And leave it there. If you’re going to several shops or places in the same area or within walking distance, don’t move your car. Take a stroll instead.

-Shades of green. In summer, park in the shade. Use windscreen shades to keep summer heat from baking your car and to help keep frost away in the winter.

-Step up! Walk, ride a bike or take the train when your car isn’t needed.

-Beat the rush. Plan trips during off-hours when fewer cars are clogging the roads.

-Wholesale sales. Buy in bulk when shopping, instead of making frequent smaller trips.

 

Tags: co2 emissions, CO2.ie, driving lessons, patrick james, vrt

This entry was posted on Monday, May 5th, 2008 at 11:17 am and is filed under CO2.ie, Cars, Ireland, Transport. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.