You don’t have to purchase a hybrid or electric car to reduce your car’s carbon footprint. There are ways you can reduce the carbon footprint of your existing vehicle. Here are some tips.
Maintain It
Keeping your car in top working order makes it work more efficiently, keeping emissions and gas usage at a minimum. Some things to keep in mind when taking your vehicle in for maintenance are:
- Tire pressure: keeping the tire pressure at the optimum level for your specific car can make a great deal of difference in your gas mileage. Be sure to tell the mechanic or technician to inflate the tires according to the manufacturer’s standards. It should be printed inside your car’s doors and in your owner’s manual.
- Filters: clean oil and air filters use a lot less gas than dirty ones because the engine doesn’t have to work extra to draw oil or air through clean ones. If the filters are dirty, the engine has to work harder and use more gas.
- Oil and other liquids: Keeping your oil fresh is essential for maintaining your engine performance. Same applies to other liquids that your car needs such as coolant, brake fluid, hydraulic clutch /steering fluid etc… A well-lubricated engine is much more efficient.
- Regular tunes-up and repairs: This is one of the most basic and significant means of effective car care. Regular tune-ups and repairs keep your car running efficiently and will extend its life.
Turn It Off
When waiting in your car, turn off the engine when possible. Turn off the air conditioning when you are driving uphill, or when you can do without.
Drive Carefully
You may not realize it, but how you drive your car can have as much impact as to how often you drive it.
Accelerating rapidly, speeding, or gunning the motor are all wasteful (and dangerous) activities. When going uphill, do not try to maintain your exact speed; be willing to slow it down a little and catch up to the speed limit when going downhill. Look ahead and anticipate when you will need to stop; slamming on the breaks wastes fuel.
Use Alternate Ways of Transportation
One way you can use your car responsibly is to use it less often. Public transit is inexpensive and far less polluting than cars. You can also use your vehicle to transport groups in a carpool.
Final Word
These are just some ways you can reduce your car’s carbon footprint. There are benefits for all if we employ some of these techniques; even some insurance companies offer lower rates to customers who drive their cars less and drive more carefully.
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