A lot of us depend on our cars to move around from one place to another. While we may consider it as the most convenient option, there is no denying the fact that every time we take out the car, we contribute a little more to the greenhouse gases that are responsible for global warming. So how do we go about enjoying our drive without necessarily hurting the environment much? Simple; take a look at 7 green car driving tips given below to make your drive more eco-friendly. Note: In doing so, you would also be doing your car a great favor by increasing its fuel efficiency.
Tip 1: Clear out unwanted stuff from your car
Before taking your car out for a drive, clean it inside out. Remove all unwanted items from the car, including grocery bags, magazines, books and toys, etc. By doing so, you would be reducing your car’s overall weight, which will automatically translate to reduced fuel consumption, and so, reduced CO2 emissions.
Tip 2: Check the Tire Pressure
It is wise to check the tire pressures at regular intervals. Deflated tires that have less air can reduce the car’s performance and increase fuel consumption significantly. So make it a point to check and maintain tire pressure regularly to reduce emissions.
Tip 3: Maintain your Car
You need to ensure that your car is in good working condition on a regular basis. Opt for annual inspections (or once in six months) to take care of issues like clogged or overworked engines that could increase your car’s carbon footprint to a great extent. In doing so, you can do your bit to save the environment and enjoy driving around in a top-notch car in the process.
Tip 4: Use Air Conditioning Sparingly
Not many of us know that the air conditioner in our car also runs on fuel. As such, using the air conditioner too much can also lead to increased fuel consumption, which leads to increased emissions. So make it a point to use the air conditioner in your car sparingly. Although your first impulse on a hot, summer day would be to roll up the windows and switch on the AC, consider rolling down the windows if there is a breeze. This way, you can remain cool without necessarily using the AC too much.
Tip 5: Avoid Braking and Accelerating Harshly, Consider Cruising
Your car tends to use up extra fuel whenever you brake or accelerate hurriedly. In addition to consuming up to 30% extra fuel, these actions can also decrease the life of your vehicle. So avoid braking harshly at junctures or traffic lights. Instead, coast to a slow stop. Similarly, start with a slow speed and then increase it gradually. Consider cruising down sloped roads to minimize fuel consumption, thus doing your bit to reduce harmful CO2 emissions from your vehicle.
Tip 6: Control your Speed
A lot of us know that driving at high speeds would force our vehicle to use more fuel and create more pollution. However, did you know that driving at very slow speeds can also cause create an equal amount of pollution? That’s true! Traveling at speeds lower than 24 kmph can also cause your car to consume more fuel and in turn, emit release CO2 into the atmosphere. So try to maintain a constant speed always.
Tip 7: Don’t Idle
A lot of us tend to keep our car idling while we run into a shop to grab something real quick. We feel that not much can happen in about 5 minutes or so. The truth is that a lot can happen in this interval. Idling cars tend to consume more fuel than moving ones. Hence, they emit more CO2 into the atmosphere. So make it a point to switch off the car even when waiting for very short intervals of time. This would surely increase your car’s efficiency as well as reduce its emissions to a great extent.
If you prefer driving to work, but prefer doing that with minimal carbon footprint, consider opting for green driving practices. These tips will ensure that you get to the desired destination without harming the environment much in the process.
