Saving energy in our vehicles

Sometimes people have to use cars but there are things that everyone can do to use cars more efficiently. This will save money and it will also help the environment. From the list below, select those things that adults in your family, or any drivers you know, do already and those things which you can suggest they try. If adults in your family never use a car - well done! - they are already helping to protect your environment.

• Try to avoid using cars for short journeys - use public transport, ride a bicycle or walk.
• Plan ahead - choose uncongested routes, combine trips, car share.
• Avoid cold starts - drive off as soon as possible after starting.
• Drive smoothly and efficiently - harsh acceleration and heavy braking have a very significant effect on fuel consumption, driving more smoothly saves fuel.
  
  Energy Saving Trust
• Slow down - driving at high speeds significantly increases fuel consumption.
• Use higher gears, as soon as traffic conditions allow.
• Switch off - sitting stationary is zero miles per gallon, switch off the engine whenever it is safe to do so.
• Reduce weight - don't carry unnecessary weight, remove roof racks when not in use.
• Have a look in the boot of the car that you travel in - does everything need to be carried in the boot at all times?
• Regular servicing helps keep the engine at best efficiency.
• Keep the pressure up - make sure the tyres are inflated to the correct pressure for the vehicle.
• Do not compromise safety but be aware that the use of onboard electrical devices increases fuel consumption.
• Check fuel consumption - it will help you get the most from the car, changes in overall fuel consumption may indicate a fault.
• Use air-conditioning sparingly - running air-conditioning continuously will increase fuel consumption significantly.

If you know anyone who is buying a new car, ask them to check the carbon dioxide emissions and compare the fuel efficiency of different models. For brand new cars bought now, the less carbon dioxide the car emits, the less road tax they'll need to pay!

To see the differences in emissions and road tax try this:

Using the Carbon Calculator find out the 12 month Vehicle Excise Duty and the carbon dioxide emissions paid on a manual, petrol driven, Fiat Punto Sporting and a petrol driven Ferrari Modena. What are the differences?

European environment ministers have set a target of reducing average carbon dioxide emissions from new cars to 120 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre by 2005, or 2010 at the latest. Using the Carbon Calculator again, can you find any cars whose emissions are below this level already?

• Can you find 5 petrol cars that qualify for the lowest rate of Vehicle Excise Duty and their carbon dioxide emissions?
• Can you find 5 diesel cars that qualify for the lowest rate of Vehicle Excise Duty and their carbon dioxide emissions?