OK I debated if I should post this as this a forum for the Aussie Pink Floyd Show....but what the hell, I think you will get something from it. I put this in our work newsletter a few Weeks ago. It's a compilation from another article I read and my own stuff in there too.
Top 10 Tips
Here are 10 highly effective ways to go greener with your car. Hit it ;D
1. Drive a green car
There are now hybrids to match almost any need: two-door, four-door, SUV, luxury sedan. They get better mileage than their conventional counterparts, have cleaner emissions, and save money on gas. If a hybrid isn't in your future, try for a car with the best MPG you can find; and remember that hybrids aren't always the most efficient option, either. Bio-diesel is a clean, domestic, veggie-based, carbon-neutral fuel that will run in any diesel car or truck with little or no modification to the engine. Straight vegetable oil is an option for the more ambitious green driver and can make fuelling up almost free. Another veggie fuel is ethanol, watch for more ethanol blended fuels in the future as there are between 5-6 million flex-fuel vehicles already on the road in N America. Also, affordable, practical electric cars and plug-in hybrids aren't too far off, either. But whether or not you drive a hybrid or alternative-fuel vehicle, there are lots you can do to green your car right now.
2. Best practices
Driving technique has a lot to do with your fuel economy. Avoid sudden starts and stops and go the speed limit. Not only does speeding and herky-jerky driving kill your MPG, it's dangerous. And even if no one gets hurt in a fender bender, how green is it to get a new bumper or have your car repainted? As a general rule of thumb, keep your engine speeds between 1,200 — 3,000 RPM's, and up-shift between 2,000 — 2500 RPMs. Also, drive wise and minimize unnecessary miles by doing errands in one trip, getting good directions, and calling ahead.
3. Stay in tune
Getting regular tune-ups, maintenance, and having clean air filters will help you burn less gas, pollute less, and prevent car trouble down the line. Pump up: if all N. American's tires were properly inflated we could save more than 2 billion gallons of gas each year! (Check your manual for optimal pressure). Lastly, get the junk out of the trunk! All that extra weight is sapping your fuel economy. You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.
4. Car minus the carbon
There are many services out there now that can help you calculate your yearly emissions from driving and offset those greenhouse gasses through various means. The following are a few carbon offset suggestions!
5. Carpool
Find coworkers, neighbours, and fellow students headed the same direction. Start with one shared trip per week. Also look into car sharing programs.
6. Leave the car at home
For shorter adventures, walk, take public transit, ride your bike.
7. Drive part of the way
If getting where you're going by bike or public transit alone isn't going to happen, consider driving part of the way and then jumping on public transit or your bike (a folder would be perfect). A great way to beat traffic! There are many “Park and Ride” parking lots around most towns and cities.
8. Easy on the Air Conditioning.
AC makes the engine use more gas, so use the windows to help keep the car cool whenever possible. Parking in the shade and using a reflective windshield shade can keep your car cooler when parked, meaning it takes less to cool it off when you get back in.
9. Telecommuting
Drive less with the wonders of working from home. With instant messaging, video chat, teleconferencing, and other world-flattening technologies, making the rush-hour trek to work and back might not be necessary every day. There are about 44 million N. Americans who do this at least once a week.
10. Aspire to carlessness
Not everyone is going to be able to do it, at least not cold turkey. It will probably entail a shift in thinking and some time, but living car-free might be more within reach than you think. Living closer to work and school is a big part of it. Walking, biking, public transport, car sharing, car borrowing, and teleconferencing are a strong arsenal of tools to help reduce the need for a car. Give it some thought. Together we can make a difference.
Bob Mitchell.
