SAGA — Doing things properly

Nowadays, more than ever, car insurance customers should be thinking about how to cut carbon emissions. With over 32,897,000 vehicles on the UK’s roads, we’re pumping an awful lot carbon into the environment. In fact, transport accounts for almost a quarter of UK carbon emissions. That’s a 47% increase since 1980. And things don’t end there. It’s predicted that road traffic emissions will increase by 33% at a time when we urgently need to be reducing them.

Of course, the best way to protect the environment is to leave your car at home and either walk or use a good old pushbike which would save on motor insurance too. Although either option is unlikely to appeal to many of us, basically because they’re simply not practical.

But there are some very basic things you can to ensure that your car goes green. Here’s some simple advice about how to cut the carbon emissions made by your car. The thing to remember is that the less work your engine has to do, the less fuel is burned, and so the lower your CO2 emissions.

The slower you go, the less CO2 you produce

Speed limits govern our roads for a reason – safety. Staying within them means you can help reduce CO2 emissions and what’s more, reduce fuel costs. Just take this little nugget. At 70mph you could be using up to 9% more fuel than if you drive at 60mph, and up to 15% more than at 50mph.

Less stopping and starting – less CO2

Think about it. Every time you stop and start whilst sat in traffic, you’re using more CO2. So what’s the answer? Keep a watchful on how the traffic is moving. Slow down early by gently easing off the accelerator but keeping your car in gear. By the time you get near the vehicle in front, the traffic may have started on its way again. Simply change down a gear and back on the throttle. If you’re stationary for more than three minutes, just switch off the engine

Stop revving the engine

All car engines are designed to be efficient from the moment you turn the key. So revving the engine unnecessarily wastes fuel, increases engine wear and produces unwanted CO2. Try using your gears to better effect – change up earlier. In a diesel change at 2000rpm and in a petrol driven vehicle, change at 2500rpm. You’ll notice the difference.

Cut down on clutter and cut CO2

Believe or not, simply by cutting down on the clutter you carry around in car (and many of us carry a lot), you can reduce the amount of CO2 it produces. So, take time to have a quick look around and remove any unwanted items before a journey.

Check tyre pressure to keep CO2 in check

Under inflated tyres create more resistance on the road, so the engine has to work harder. Simply check your tyres regularly to ensure they’re inflated to the correct pressure. However, it’s wise to remember that an over inflated tyre can be dangerous.

Re–thinking the way you drive can have a dramatic impact on the environment, so maybe it’s time to think about how you can make your car greener.