Here at Clean and Green we have been having a brainstorming session to come up with 10 ways to save energy when using cars. We have come up with some suggestions and also we found that out of these ideas we found a list of ten irritations, mainly due to inconsiderate drivers. We think that they are worth a mention before the energy saving tips, be honest and give yourself a slap on the wrist for every one that you are guilty of doing!
TOP TEN IRRITATIONS
Throwing litter from the car (this was mentioned in an article in the paper last week, this is done to keep the car clean apparently!)
Eating. We witnessed someone driving at ten miles an hour in first gear last week because they were eating an ice cream and couldn’t change gear.
Parking in disabled parking areas when you don’t have the relevant badge.
Stopping the car in the middle of the road on busy streets, or car parks, instead of finding a parking space or stopping for a “natter”. Forcing a queue to build up behind you.
Driving too close to the car in front and driving aggressively.
Using mobile phones when in motion.
Failing to indicate out of laziness. Or because of number 2 or number 6 mentioned earlier.
Pulling out in front of people forcing them to slow down or even stop.
Lighting up cigarettes.
Throwing lit cigarettes out of the car, especially when there is a cyclist or motorcyclist behind you, or dry gorse at the roadside.
TOP TEN TIPS FOR DRIVERS.
Drive less. Simply put, cars burn fossil fuel, lots of it. Cutting out all unnecessary trips will benefit the planet. The car is the most polluting form of transport we use. Try to arrange car sharing when going to work and use public transport if possible. If you have short trips to make try cycling or even that thing you do with your legs.
Don’t be idle. Turn off your engine when you are stationary for more than a few minutes. Keeping your feet warm while you wait for the children to come out of school or waiting for your partner to come out of the shop will add to air pollution. Switch off, this will save you fuel too.
Check your tyres. Poorly inflated tyres can result in up to a 10 percent fuel loss. Contact your local tyre company if you have old tyres that need recycling.
Check for leaks. Check for leaks in the engine. Millions of gallons of oil and antifreeze drip each year from cars onto the roads, car parks and pavements. All this eventually ends up in rivers, lakes and the sea.
Keep the car in tune. Getting the car tuned can add a 5 percent increase in fuel economy. Leaks can be detected early as well.
Change oil frequently. Changing the oil regularly will give better mileage and a cleaner burning engine. Ask your motor shop about synthetic oil that’s available.
Recycle used oil. If you have oil from an oil change, don’t put it into the waterways or “behind the garage” take it to the recycling centre at the Carndonagh council site. They have the facilities to recycle the oil. And they can advise for large quantities to be collected for a small fee from a recycling company
Drive smoothly. Accelerating and breaking gently can improve your fuel consumption. It also makes it more comfortable for passengers.
Recycle old cars. Take the old cars to the recycling scrap yards.
New or used? When you are looking to replace your old car, remember that buying a second hand one reduces the need for another car to be produced. If you do buy new then look at the amount of recycled components that make up the car. The dealer will be happy to tell you. There are cars that are dual fuel such as the Toyota Prius, (available in September) which combines petrol with electric drive, giving 62 mpg. Another one that caught our attention was a Volkswagen golf that is lubricated and run on rapeseed oil.
Environmental.
TOP TEN IRRITATIONS
Throwing litter from the car (this was mentioned in an article in the paper last week, this is done to keep the car clean apparently!)
Eating. We witnessed someone driving at ten miles an hour in first gear last week because they were eating an ice cream and couldn’t change gear.
Parking in disabled parking areas when you don’t have the relevant badge.
Stopping the car in the middle of the road on busy streets, or car parks, instead of finding a parking space or stopping for a “natter”. Forcing a queue to build up behind you.
Driving too close to the car in front and driving aggressively.
Using mobile phones when in motion.
Failing to indicate out of laziness. Or because of number 2 or number 6 mentioned earlier.
Pulling out in front of people forcing them to slow down or even stop.
Lighting up cigarettes.
Throwing lit cigarettes out of the car, especially when there is a cyclist or motorcyclist behind you, or dry gorse at the roadside.
TOP TEN TIPS FOR DRIVERS.
Drive less. Simply put, cars burn fossil fuel, lots of it. Cutting out all unnecessary trips will benefit the planet. The car is the most polluting form of transport we use. Try to arrange car sharing when going to work and use public transport if possible. If you have short trips to make try cycling or even that thing you do with your legs.
Don’t be idle. Turn off your engine when you are stationary for more than a few minutes. Keeping your feet warm while you wait for the children to come out of school or waiting for your partner to come out of the shop will add to air pollution. Switch off, this will save you fuel too.
Check your tyres. Poorly inflated tyres can result in up to a 10 percent fuel loss. Contact your local tyre company if you have old tyres that need recycling.
Check for leaks. Check for leaks in the engine. Millions of gallons of oil and antifreeze drip each year from cars onto the roads, car parks and pavements. All this eventually ends up in rivers, lakes and the sea.
Keep the car in tune. Getting the car tuned can add a 5 percent increase in fuel economy. Leaks can be detected early as well.
Change oil frequently. Changing the oil regularly will give better mileage and a cleaner burning engine. Ask your motor shop about synthetic oil that’s available.
Recycle used oil. If you have oil from an oil change, don’t put it into the waterways or “behind the garage” take it to the recycling centre at the Carndonagh council site. They have the facilities to recycle the oil. And they can advise for large quantities to be collected for a small fee from a recycling company
Drive smoothly. Accelerating and breaking gently can improve your fuel consumption. It also makes it more comfortable for passengers.
Recycle old cars. Take the old cars to the recycling scrap yards.
New or used? When you are looking to replace your old car, remember that buying a second hand one reduces the need for another car to be produced. If you do buy new then look at the amount of recycled components that make up the car. The dealer will be happy to tell you. There are cars that are dual fuel such as the Toyota Prius, (available in September) which combines petrol with electric drive, giving 62 mpg. Another one that caught our attention was a Volkswagen golf that is lubricated and run on rapeseed oil.
Environmental.
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