What driving tips can I use to reduce my CO2 emissions?
Ask youself before you drive: Do I really need to use the vehicle? Drive less and walk, bike, take the bus or car pool more often. Use the vehicle to suit the need. Motorbikes, scooters and mopeds are very fuel-efficient forms of transport. Plan your trip so you:
do your errands by the most efficient route
avoid peak-hour traffic times if possible
avoid delays which may cause unnecessary idling (road construction, trains, traffic jams)
avoid steep hills
give yourself lots of time. Racing against the clock causes hard braking and quick acceleration and fast driving - all which waste fuel
in the city, open a window instead of using the air conditioner
Drive safely:
drive with courtesy and not aggressively. Fast starts and hard braking only reduce travel time by 2.5 minutes for the average hour-long trip. You also use 39% more fuel, and produce as much as 5 time more exhaust emissions
anticipate what may happen ahead and drive accordingly (red lights, stalled traffice, stop signs)
drive at the posted speed limit. Increasing your speed limit from 100km/h to 120 km/h will increase fuel consumption by about 20%.
Reduce idling by:
turning off the engine when waiting in a traffic queue for more than 10 seconds
warm-up your vehicle by driving. Vehicles usually need only 30 seconds of idling time on winter days. If unsure consult your vehicle's manual
use a block heater with a timer during the winter. One or two hours are usually adequate
shut off your vehicle when you are not in it
Maintain your vehicle:
check your tire pressure especially during the winter. With under-inflated tires, your vehicle can use up to 3% more fuel (www.betiresmart.ca/)
ensure your vehicle is tuned and serviced regularly. A poorly maintained vehicle uses up to 50% more fuel and produces up to 50% more greenhouse gas emissions than a vehicle that is serviced regularly
Put your vehicle on a diet and lose weight:
remove unneeded heavy objects like sand bags for the spring, summer and fall
remove sports equipment from the trunk
remove ski racks, roof racks, bike racks and similar add-ons when you are not using them. They spoil the vehicles aerodynamics and create drag which uses more fuel
On the highway:
drive smoothly. Use the cruise control if possible
if you have manual transmission, shift up to the next gear as soon as possible to get best fuel savings
keep windows closed and use the vehicle's flow-through ventilation
use the air conditioner only when absolutely necessary. It can use up to 10% more fuel
reduce your speed. Traveling at 110 k/h uses up to 25% more fuel than cruising at 90 km/h
Use an ethanol blend gasoline when you refuel
When buying a vehicle:
whether old or new, consult the fuel consumption sticker and choose a fuel-efficient vehicle from the class of vehicle that best suits your needs
consider buying an electric hybrid vehicle or a small vehicle and renting a larger vehicle for the occasional long trips, if needed
Buying a vehicle that's 25% more fuel efficient could save you $360 on an average annual gasoline bill of $1440.
