Green Driving Tips -

Article By This Is Green - July 2008

ThisIsGreen.co.uk have come up with some ideas you may not have considered for making your car more economical which can save you up to 15% on your fuel bills - These are:

1. Clear your clutter from your car!

How many of us are guilty of carrying stuff in our boots that donÕt really need to be there for the majority of journeys we make? - Start in the boot and empty as much as you can either into your garages or sheds or if you no longer need the items anymore recycle them at your nearest recycling centre, then check the back seats and under seats etc, then open up your glove compartment and check the door pockets, If you have a roofrack that you don't use why not remove it? - every item of any weight will make your vehicle guzzle more fuel so by lightening your car it will become more economical making it greener to the environment and saving your pocket with the ever rising fuel costs that have hit uk motorists so hard in 2008.

2. Close your windows!

Whilst driving try to keep your windows shut (obviously in certain hot weather conditions this would be foolish!) - When they are open it creates a wind tunner inside your vehicle and will slow you down forcing you to accelerate more to achieve the speed you require so you end up burning more fuel than you need, this is especially the case on a more breezy or windy day, you may be thinking that you don't open your windows as you use Air Conditioning instead, well this can be just as bad as it takes 10% more fuel when you have Air Conditioning turned on than it does turned off, our tip is to use the air vents and dress minimally when driving in the hot summer months.

3. Check your tyre pressures

Most petrol stations will allow you to do this for free, check your tyres to make sure they are at their correct pressure, check your manual/handbook if you are unsure - Having correctly inflated tyres will save 2% of your fuel so every little helps.

4. Avoid rapid acceleration and braking

Keeping at a consistent speed will improve your economy, braking hard will not only wear your brakes out but will increase your fuel usage, by anticipating when you need to stop you will save.

5. Avoid engine idling

When stuck in traffic for long periods turn your engine off, sitting idle for a minute or more will waste more fuel than restarting your engine from scratch again + will save the environment!