The transportation sector accounts for around a quarter of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. But the good news is that small changes in driving behavior can have a significant impact.
For example, avoiding hard accelerations and slamming on the brakes can improve your fuel economy by up to 20%.
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Choosing a ‘greener’ car
Cars are responsible for a large proportion of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, and the good news is that there are plenty of ways you can reduce your carbon footprint. One of the most effective is choosing a ‘greener’ car.
A ‘greener’ vehicle uses alternative fuels such as gas, diesel, biodiesel and electricity. These are cleaner than traditional petrol and diesel vehicles and can help you to cut your carbon footprint dramatically.
There are many factors to consider when buying a greener car, including the distance you travel and what kind of environment you drive in. If you are unsure what type of car would be best for you, consult an expert.
Organizing your errands
Organizing your errands is one of the best ways to save gas and the environment. Many software programs exist that can track your errands and map out the most efficient routes.
To start, create a list of all the tasks that need to be done. Once you have done that, prioritize those errands and put them in order of priority.
If possible, group several errands together into one trip. This will ensure that you have completed everything and it will also be more convenient because most of the errands can be done on the way to your destination.
Car sharing
Car sharing is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to reduce your carbon footprint on the road. It allows you to rent many types of vehicles, including hybrids and electric cars, by the hour or day, and pay for only what you use them for.
As a result, car shares help to reduce congestion and air pollution on our roads, allowing more green space for everyone to enjoy. And car shares also reduce the number of miles driven and emissions produced per mile driven.
Studies show that car sharing can significantly lower the total number of vehicle kilometres travelled (VKT), both in new and existing users. This is because users tend to drive less when they don’t own a car, and they often take advantage of other transportation options such as public transport or renting cars for short trips.
Avoiding hard accelerations
When it comes to fuel consumption, hard accelerations are one of the most expensive and dangerous driving habits. They waste fuel by adding stress to the engine and transmission, making it burn more fuel than it would need to reach the same speed more gradually.
They also release more harmful gasses into the air, according to research by the Department of Energy. These bad behaviors can lower your mileage by as much as 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent around town.
If you’re a fleet manager, it’s important to avoid these aggressive behaviors in your drivers. Not only will it save you money in the long run, but it will help keep your vehicles, passengers, and drivers safe.
Avoiding idling
Leaving a vehicle idling for a long period of time is not only inefficient, it’s also harmful to the environment and your health. Idling not only uses up fuel, but it can also damage your engine and clog your air filters.
If you’re a business owner or fleet manager, idling can be costly to your operations. Learn how to minimize the amount of time your vehicles are idling with tips on setting idling rules, notifications, driver coaching, and reporting.
The best telematics solutions include idling data, which can help you identify areas of improvement in your fleet. Using auxiliary power units, optimizing driver routes, and training drivers to reduce idling can all make a big difference in your fuel consumption and operational costs.