There is no denying that automobiles are an essential part of our daily lives. We need them to get to work, drop children to school and buy groceries and other essentials. However, our vehicle dependency can be reduced. We have alternatives to driving and we can drive efficiently when we have to. Here are some of the ways we can reduce our dependence on cars.
Take Public Transportation or Telecommute: Of course, it’s convenient to get in your car and go whenever you want. But do you really need the car to get to work every day? See about walking to the nearest subway or train station and taking public transportation to work. It will reduce the environmental impact of vehicles and maybe, you’ll get some exercise in the process.
That said, do you really need to go into the office daily? New cloud-based software makes it easy to work remotely. Do this once a week and you’ve cut your carbon footprint by 20 percent. If you used your automobile less you could actually get cheaper car insurance too due to low mileage. Petrol isn’t cheap either and those savings could easily pay for the train tickets.
Consolidate Errands: Millions of people run errands with their automobiles. We waste tons of money and time when we’re not resourceful. Be smart and consolidate your trips. For example, go shopping when you need to drop somewhere else as well.
Look at how you can reduce car running costs and you will be green and save a lot of money with a little effort, including on insurance premiums. Here are a few ways of spending less petrol to keep your wallet happy and reduce emission and air pollution.
Size Matters: Do you really need a 4×4 or a large SUV? Conventional sedans typically weigh less and are more efficient. You can achieve smaller engine capacity and still get an SUV if it is your thing.
Service Your Car Regularly: When the vehicles are not looked after they burn more gas and create more emissions. Regularly scheduled maintenance saves fuel and prolongs the life of your vehicle. Seek out eco-friendly garages as well while you are at it. It is essential that dirty engine oil is disposed consciously and reused.
Drive Better: We are adults and certainly know how to drive. But is that really the case? Studies show that we can easily reduce our fuel consumption 15% by changing the way we drive. There are a few handy apps drivers can download for free which show you how you can improve driving skill and reduce fuel costs. Get one of them and see where you are going wrong.
Reduce Fuel Consumption: There are a few other ways of reducing your fuel consumption, too. Again, they are not hard to adopt into your driving habits. And these small changes can really make a big difference to your wallet and the environment.
Here are some of the most well-known tips to reducing car fuel consumption;
- Plan your journey ahead to avoid congestion zones and getting lost. Sitting idle in busy traffic burns a lot of gas.
- Reduce useless weight on your vehicle and take down car racks if you don’t need them. Extra weight requires a little bit more gas to run your automobile.
- Try to drive at optimum speed. Did you know that you can save about 10% on fuel costs if you drive at 60 mph instead of 70 mph?
- Check your tire pressure regularly. Under inflated tires cost you more petrol.
- Don’t rely too much on air conditioning.
Of course, switching to electric vehicles is an option too and it may be the most beneficial for you and the environment. It costs a bit more to insure them but electricity is much cheaper than gas.