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Community Action
Eco-driving tips
You don't need to own a hybrid vehicle to be an eco-driver.
You can significantly reduce your fuel consumption just by making small changes to the way you drive.
Eco-driving tips
Here are tips for reducing your fuel consumption and keeping money in your pocket:
- Keep tires properly inflated and service your vehicle regularly.
- Remove excess weight, such as roof racks when not in use, and items from your trunk.
- Reduce highway speed; use cruise control. Fuel consumption starts to increase above 90km/hr.
- Avoid jack rabbit starts and hard braking.
- Combine your trips to save fuel and time; consider car pooling.
- Use air conditioning and seat heaters sparingly
- Plan and combine your trips and save time as well as fuel
- Close your windows and sun roof during highway driving
- Use cruise control on highways and save fuel by keeping the vehicle's speed constant
- Use your most fuel-efficient vehicle for commuting
- Consider taking public transit, car pooling, walking or riding your bike to work just one day a week and save money while reducing your fuel consumption
- Consider car sharing for a fee, members of a car sharing organization get access to a vehicle without having to directly own it
- Buy a fuel-efficient vehicle
- Read your owner's manual and follow the directions to keep your vehicle running at its optimal level
Your Carbon Footprint
A carbon footprint is the total set of greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event or product. A carbon footprint is measured by undertaking a greenhouse gas emissions assessment. Once the size of a carbon footprint is known, a strategy can be devised to reduce it.
You don't need to make major changes to your daily life to reduce your carbon footprint. The right combination of small changes, many costing nothing, can reduce your fuel consumption by thousands of dollars. See above for some tips on becoming a more fuel efficient driver.
What is Carbon Offsetting?
Humans take everyday actions that consume energy and produce carbon dioxide emissions e.g. taking flights, driving cars, heating or cooling homes and offices.
Carbon offsetting provides a mechanism to reduce greenhouse gas emissions when we absolutely cannot change our behaviour to reduce our carbon footprint e.g. we must take a flight because travel by another method is not possible.
A "carbon offset" is an emission reduction credit from another organization's project that results in less carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere than would otherwise occur. Carbon offsets are bought and sold through a number of international brokers, online retailers, and trading platforms.
This year, the goal for Autogreen is to plant 20,000 trees*, which is equal to approximately 260,000 pounds of carbon offset. Members can contribute to this goal by participating in the Autogreen Program CAA will plant a tree on your behalf.
*In partnership with Trees Ontario, one tree per Member household to a maximum of 20,000 trees for CAA South Central Ontario Member participants only.
Sources:
David Suzuki Foundation
carbon footprint
Carbon Trust
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