bemoreeco

Smarter driving could save you up to £250 a year in petrol or diesel. And with fuel prices rising all the time, it could save you even more in the future. Applying a smarter driving style is easy and once you’ve mastered it you’ll be doing your bit for the environment and for your purse. So what is smarter driving? Simply, it means driving your car more efficiently. Doing this means your car will produce less carbon dioxide (CO2), the main gas contributing to climate change.

Adopt these top ten steps from the Energy Saving Trust and you’ll soon be saving money and reducing your car’s impact on the environment.

1. Check your revs – change up before 2,500rpm (petrol) and 2,000rpm (diesel).
2. Anticipate road conditions and drive smoothly, avoiding sharp acceleration and heavy braking. This saves fuel and reduces accident rates.
3. Use air conditioning sparingly as it significantly increases fuel consumption.
4. The most efficient speed depends upon the car in question but is typically around 45 – 50mph. Faster speed will greatly increase your fuel consumption.
5. Drive away immediately when starting from cold – idling to heat the engine wastes fuel and causes rapid engine wear.
6. Accessories such as roof racks, bike carriers, and roof boxes significantly affect your car’s aerodynamics and reduce fuel efficiency, so remember to remove them when not in use.
7. Avoid short journeys – a cold engine uses almost twice as much fuel and catalytic converters can take five miles to become effective. Plan your journeys to avoid congestion, road works and getting lost.
8. Check your tyre pressure regularly – under-inflated tyres are dangerous and can increase fuel consumption by up to 3%.
9. If you’re stuck in a jam, switch the engine off if you expect to be there for more than a minute or two. Cutting the engine will save fuel and reduce emissions
10. Use cruise control as much as possible while driving as this saves fuel and helps you drive more eco friendly.

Alternatively, leave the car at home and get on your bike - which is the greenest form of transport. It gets you fit to so you can save on the gym bills too! For longer journeys book in advance for a cheap fare and use the train.