Welcome to Warwickshire County Council

Eco Car Use
When you have to use a car, there are many ways in which you can drive in a more eco-friendly way. Smarter driving or eco-driving could save you up to £230 a year in petrol or diesel. And with fuel prices rising all the time, smarter driving could save you even more in the future. Adopting a smarter driving style is easy. And once you've mastered it, not only will you start to make real savings, but you'll also be doing your bit for the environment. That's because smarter driving means driving your car more efficiently. Doing this means your car will produce less carbon dioxide (CO2), the main gas contributing to climate change. Remember to follow the steps below and you'll soon be saving money and reducing your car's impact on the environment.

Ten tips for safer, greener, stress-free and money saving driving

1 Avoid short journeys - a cold engine uses almost twice as much fuel and catalytic converters can take five miles to become effective.

2 Remove unnecessary weight - such as roof racks, bike carriers, and roof boxes which significantly affect your car's aerodynamics and reduce fuel efficiency, so remember to remove them when not in use.

3 Use air conditioning sparingly as it significantly increases fuel consumption.

4 The most efficient speed depends upon the car in question but is typically around 45 - 50mph (at 70mph you use 30% more fuel than at 50mph).

5 Check your tyre pressure regularly - under inflated tyres are dangerous and can increase fuel consumption by up to 3%.

6 If you're stuck in a jam, switch the engine off if you expect to be there for more than a minute or two. Cutting the engine will save fuel and reduce emissions.

7 Check your revs - change up before 2,500rpm (petrol) and 2,000rpm (diesel). Change up to a higher gear as soon as possible.

8 Drive away immediately when starting from cold - idling to heat the engine wastes fuel and causes rapid engine wear. An idling engine produces 80% more pollution than a vehicle in motion.

9 Anticipate road conditions and drive smoothly, avoiding sharp acceleration and heavy braking. This saves fuel and reduces accident rates. Braking and accelerating increases fuel consumption by 20%. Sharp acceleration produce 50% more pollutants.

10 Plan your journeys to avoid congestion, road works and getting lost. Motorists waste 350,000 tonnes of fuel per year just getting lost!

And finally...
Try car sharing and halve your fuel costs! Sign up to the Warwickshire CarShare database.

Source: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk and Department for Transport
Helpline: 0800 512 012
© Energy Saving Trust