Go Greener Tips

When it comes to calculating a carbon footprint, nothing has such an effect as the usage of transport. One thing guaranteed to send your rating through the ceiling is daily car use, which of course most people rely on for commuting to work. The general suggestion to lower this aspect of your emissions is to use public transport instead, but often – such as for night shift workers or people living in remote areas – this isn’t viable. The only other alternative is eco-friendly cars, and luckily, car manufacturer’s are beginning to see the need.

The most obvious solution is the electric car. Various types are available, including some that run on rechargeable batteries, some that need charging before use and some that charge during use. The hybrid car is the most popular, which requires a conventional propulsion system but uses a rechargeable energy storage system for it’s power. The hybrid has become the most popular eco-friendly car due it’s relative similarities to a standard car in design and price. Pure electric cars are often troublesome, have low average speeds and can only drive for a small amount of miles at a time.

Even the hybrid, however, has experienced problems. These vehicles tend to be more expensive than their environmentally non-friendly counterparts, while design initially suffered in terms of aesthetics. These problems are being fixed constantly, so the hybrid is still a good option if you are purchasing a new car and wish to keep it as environmentally friendly as possible.

But what about those of us who aren’t buying a new car? Well, you can convert your current petrol or diesel car into one powered by natural gas. This will drastically reduce your carbon emissions as well as money in running costs. Alternatively, if you have a diesel car you can start using bio-diesel instead, a type of fuel which is made from transesterification of animal fat and can be used in unmodified engines. It, like natural gas, tends to be cheaper than standard petroleum or diesel. However, if your car was made before 1992 there is a chance that bio-diesel will have a bad effect on the engine, so check with your manufacturer to ensure you’re safe to use it.

There are also small changes you can make to your current vehicle and fuel type that cost nothing. Check your tyres regularly, as under inflated tyres reduce fuel economy, and the more fuel you use the more emissions and the greater damage to the environment. Even if you can’t make the leap to a non-petrol car, small changes will make all the difference.