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Don't drive as much
It's not rocket science but cutting out short journeys in the car can help the planet, your wallet and your health. Why not walk to get the bread and milk from the corner shop?
Research in Britain has found that a quarter of all car journeys are less than three kilometres. Cycling or walking to the shops can make a big difference in the amount of carbon dioxide you are responsible for putting into the atmosphere.
Short journeys have more impact on the environment for each kilometre because fuel consumption and emissions are higher during a car's warm-up period. Your car also pollutes more in the warm-up period because its catalytic converter, which reduces nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions, doesn't work effectively until it heats up.
You can reduce emissions by combining journeys - do one run on a Saturday that includes the groceries, hardware store and the nursery rather than three return journeys. It is best to go to your furthest destination first, so that the car will stay warm for longer.
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Consider swapping from petrol to diesel.
The debate is still raging as to the pros and cons of petrol versus diesel, camps are firmly pitched on both sides. When considering diesel we have evaluated performance, economy and environment.
Manufacturers of diesel engine vehicles are extolling the values of their better performance, but it is a different kind of performance. Diesel engine's tend to have higher torque and turbo power making it easier to overtake, easier to carry heavy loads or towing, fewer gear changes- which can add up to a more effortless drive for you.
New diesel engine technology has started to deliver around 30% better fuel economy than the equivalent petrol engine. Better economy equals less visits to the petrol station, if you are currently filling up once a week with diesel this would be closer to once every two weeks.
Finally, we know that cars are never good for the environment, but have become an essential part of modern life but with diesel you are minimising your environmental footprint. Greater fuel economy means you are putting out less harmful gases into the atmosphere.
French carmaker Peugeot continues to be a market leader in diesel technology, focusing on their "HDi" engines long before diesel became cool. Their persistance was recently rewarded when a Peugeot 308 HDi they took out two Guinness book records for "Round Australia Diesel Economy World Record" as well as the overall "Round Australia World Fuel Economy Record".
The diesel-powered 308 travelled a total of 14,580km (9,060miles) and averaged an amazing 1,919km (1,192miles) from a single 60L tank. This equates to a final fuel consumption figure of 3.13L/100km (75mpg) and carbon emissions levels of just 90.3g/km.
Food for thought as you consider petrol or diesel to save money at the bowser.
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Change your driving style
The way you drive has a huge effect on fuel consumption. If you race from every set of traffic lights, you will use significantly more petrol. But equally, if you accelerate too slowly you can also use too much fuel because the engine is under load for longer.
If you drive a manual, changing gears at the right time will improve your mileage. Experts recommend changing up at about 2500rpm for a petrol-engined car and 2000rpm for a diesel. If you change too early or hold gears for too long, you will overwork the engine and use more fuel.
In an automatic, shifts will be smoother and quicker if you ease back on the throttle once the car has gained enough initial speed.
The same theory applies to slowing down. If you race to every intersection and plant your foot on the brake at the last minute, you will use more fuel than if you look ahead and try to anticipate the flow of traffic. The more you maintain your momentum, the less you have to use the accelerator. It's the shifting of a large mass from idle that uses the most petrol. The bigger the car, the more impact your driving style will have.
On the open road, travelling above the speed limit can add to your fuel bills. An extra 20kmh can mean up to 25 per cent higher fuel consumption.
The growing legion of hybrid car owners has spawned many websites dedicated entirely to tips on driving styles that will get the best mileage out of your car. Search for "hypermiling" and you'll find a range of sites with the latest tips from fuel consumption fanatics. Most of it makes sense, but don't follow the lead of the more obsessed hypermilers and switch your car off as you coast up to traffic lights.
Braking and steering systems are power assisted these days and you could end up having a nasty accident if you switch them off.
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Wind down the window
There's some debate about whether it is more fuel-efficient to have the windows wound down or the air-conditioner on to keep cool. It is generally accepted that air-conditioning increases fuel consumption by about 10per cent - but winding down the windows increases drag, which is also an enemy of good fuel consumption.
Some experts say driving with the windows down on the highway can increase consumption by as much as 20 per cent. The Government's Green Vehicle Guide says air-conditioning is a better option at speeds above 80kmh; other experts say 50kmh. The same applies to sunroofs.
If your car has been sitting in the heat for a while on a hot day it is a good idea to wind down the windows for the first part of your journey to get cooler air flowing through the cabin. Then when you switch on the air-conditioning, it won't need to work as hard to cool the car down. Better still, try to find a parking spot in the shade.
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Don't idle
Most modern cars don't need to be left idling when you start them in the morning. If you drive off as soon as the car is started you'll save fuel and lower your car's emissions. If you have passengers, don't start the car until they are all inside.
The same applies to heavy traffic. Idling in gear at the traffic lights can use more fuel than driving normally, so if you're in a traffic jam, switch the car off when possible. The Roads and Traffic Authority recommends this when traffic is stopped in tunnels and on the approaches to the Spit Bridge in Mosman.
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Travel light
Extra weight means more fuel consumption.
The Green Vehicle Guide calculates an extra 50kg can reduce fuel efficiency by 2 per cent.
Don't carry anything heavy in the car for longer than you need to. At the end of each trip, clear out any golf clubs, tool boxes or bicycles. Always remove roof racks, bicycle racks and roof storage boxes when they're not being used and don't tow a trailer unless you have to - they add to aerodynamic drag and mean higher fuel bills.
Also think about wind resistance when you are loading things on to your roof racks.
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Avoid peak hour
Driving in peak hour can have a disastrous effect on your car's fuel consumption.
If your employer has an environmental conscience, perhaps you could suggest staggering your work hours - come in early three days a week and late the other two days.
If it is practical, working from home once or twice a week can reduce emissions. If you're not at work, try to avoid driving in peak hours if possible. If you're going somewhere unfamiliar, plan the route beforehand.
Getting lost and going the long way increase emissions from your journey.
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Maintain your car
A regularly serviced car will emit fewer greenhouse gases and pollutants. Have your oil changed regularly and make sure there's plenty of water in the radiator. Oil and filters should also be replaced at regular intervals.
If an engine runs outside its temperature range it will be less efficient and pollute more.
Tyre pressures are another, often overlooked, cause of excess fuel consumption. If your tyres are under-inflated they create more rolling resistance (friction with the road surface) and your car uses more fuel. If you're carrying additional passengers or extra weight, it's a good idea to stop at the petrol station and pump the tyres up a little.
Your car's service manual will have recommended pressures for heavier loads. On top of that, most tyres can run marginally above manufacturer's specifications.
Under-inflated tyres, as well as those out of alignment, also wear more quickly, which means you are consuming more rubber and adding to pollution.
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Note fuel consumption
A lot of modern cars have average fuel consumption read-outs in their trip computers. If yours doesn't, you can still work out your fuel consumption by resetting your odometer to zero every time you fill up the tank.
To get a litres/100kmfigure, divide the number of litres it took to refill the tank by the number of kilometres travelled, then multiply that by 100.
For example: 62 litres to travel 438kmwould be 62 ? 438 = 0.1415. Multiply this by 100 - your consumption is 14.15 litres/100km.
Do this for a month and you will begin to take more notice of your driving style. Filling up with premium unleaded petrol and low viscosity (thickness) oils can produce fuel consumption savings in some instances.
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Use all the seats
A third row seat is a bit like a four-wheel drive system. Most people say they want it but very few use it, which means it ends up being dead weight.
Car company research shows that more than 60 per cent of people who own seven seaters never use the third row. Less than 10 per cent say they use them often.
But a seven seater 4WD can be a fuel-efficient way of transporting people if all the available seats are taken.
Set up a roster with two or three other parents with people-movers or seven seat 4WDs and you could save yourself - and the environment - two or three trips a fortnight.
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