Car & Transport
Driving is probably the most polluting thing that most of us do. Burning petrol, or other fossil fuels, release pollutants that cause smog, global warming, and water pollution. Extracting, refining and transporting fossil fuels also causes pollution, so the less petrol we use, the better! There are some simple things we can all do now and in the future to turn this problem around.
Cleaning your car
NoWet Car Clean is a tested and 100% environmentally friendly product, that washes, polishes and UV protects your car without scratching. No water, hoses, buckets, soaps and detergents. No harmful chemicals, silicone, abrasives or petroleum products.
They'll come to you and are reasonably priced. Visit www.nowetqld.com.au to find out more.
Reduce your car's enviromental impact
Reduce your car's impact on the environment by subscribing to Greenfleet (non-profit organisation). For just $40 a year (tax deductable) Greenfleet will plant native trees to neutralise your car's greenhouse gas emmisions (Based on 4.3 tonnes of CO2 for the average car). Visit www.greenfleet.com.au or call 1800032 999
What is Biodiesel?
Biodiesel is the name for a variety of ester-based oxygenated fuels made from vegetable oils or animal fats. The concept of using vegetable oil as a fuel dates back to 1895. 2006 has been the year in which biodiesel has become available on the Australian market in commercial quantities. There are also a number of commercial plants which are nearing completion in late 2006 and early 2007. Visit www.biodiesel.org.au for more information.
"Dropping off my Neice at All Hallows in Brisbane this morning, I spotted a 4WD sporting the sticker 'powered by Biodiesel' - so already Brisbane Mums are embracing this cleaner fuel option!" - Desperate Housewife, Nov 8th.
Make a smarter choice
By choosing a greener vehicle, you can make a real difference.
The Green Vehicle Guide helps you by rating new Australian vehicles based on greenhouse and air pollution emissions. The rating is calculated using data provided by manufacturers from testing the vehicle against Australian standards.
Compare vehicles on the site www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au, get tips for greener motoring, advice on choosing your next car.
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Tips for greener motoring
Your driving habits, the type of vehicle you drive and the conditions under which you drive will affect your vehicle's environmental performance. Follow these tips for greener driving.
Minimise your vehicle use
Think about your travel needs prior to your travel. Planned travel decisions will result in fewer trips and more efficient/cheaper travel than unplanned decisions made 'on the go'. Some travel planning tips:
- Plan to do a number of errands in one trip rather than several trips and save both time and fuel (for the first couple of minutes of a car trip the engine is cold and this results in an increase in fuel consumption per kilometre).
- Patronise shops near to you whenever possible to reduce the distances you travel by car. Walk or cycle to your local shops if you can.
- Avoid peak-hour traffic whenever possible.
- Use alternative transport, eg. public transport (bus, train, tram or ferry), walking or cycling. These alternative methods of travel are often cheaper, and may provide other benefits including increased fitness.
Drive in high gear
The engine runs most efficiently between around 1,500 and 2,500 rpm (lower in diesels). To maintain these low revs you should change up through the gears as soon as practical and before the revs reach 2,500 rpm. Automatic transmissions will shift up more quickly and smoothly if you ease back slightly on the accelerator once the car gathers momentum.
Drive smoothly - avoid unnecessary acceleration
Drive at a good distance from the car in front so you can anticipate and travel with the flow of traffic. You will be able to see such things as traffic lights changing or cars turning and minimise your fuel use through braking and accelerating back up to full speed.
Minimise fuel wasted in idling
Minimise fuel wasted in idling by stopping the engine whenever your car is stopped or held up for an extended period of time. By having the engine switched off, even for a short period, you will save more fuel than is lost from the burst of fuel involved in restarting the engine. The net increased wear and tear from this practice is negligible.
Speed kills economy
High speeds result in high fuel consumption. At 110 km/h your car uses up to 25% more fuel than it would cruising at 90 km/h.
Minimise aerodynamic drag
Additional parts on the exterior of a vehicle such as roof racks and spoilers, or having the window open, increases air resistance and fuel consumption, in some cases by over 20%.
Look after your vehicle's tyres
Inflate your vehicle's tyres to the highest pressure recommended by the tyre manufacturer and make sure your wheels are properly aligned (remember to keep your spare tire inflated as well). Looking after your tyres will not only reduce your fuel consumption it will also extend tyre life and improve handling.
Use air conditioning sparingly
Air conditioners can use about 10% extra fuel when operating. However, at speeds of over 80 km/h, use of air conditioning is better for fuel consumption than an open window.
Travel light
Don't carry more people or cargo than you have to. The more a vehicle carries the more fuel it uses; an extra 50kg of weight can increase your fuel bill by around 2%.
Service your vehicle regularly
Keeping your vehicle well tuned will minimise its environmental impact.
Why all the fuss about SUVs?Extract from the David Suzuki Foundation's "Nature Challenge Newsletter" |
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- SUVs, minivans and pickups belong to a category of vehicles called light-duty trucks. This category wasn't intended for passenger vehicles that are used every day. As a result, light-duty trucks don't have to meet the same fuel-efficiency standards as cars.
- The fuel-efficiency standard for light-duty trucks is an average 11.8 litres per 100 kilometres. By comparison, automobiles have to meet 8.6 litres/100 km.
- Today there are almost 17 million light-duty trucks on the road and alone they are responsible for about 15 per cent of Canada’s total carbon dioxide emissions.
- Many drivers purchase SUVs because their size provides the illusion of safety. But SUVs and pickups are far more likely to be involved in single-vehicle accidents, more likely to rollover in accidents and more difficult to control in emergency situations. SUVs are also dangerous to other drivers in smaller vehicles.
www.davidsuzuki.org/naturechallenge