How To Keep Your Carbon Emissions Low When Driving
Carbon emissions are something that we all need to be mindful of because regardless of whether you believe it or not, we’re slowly killing the planet. Over the years, our energy consumption has gotten out of control, to the point that there will be a time in the future when it will be too late to prevent the inevitable that will happen - the planet’s extinction.
However, to continue giving future generations the opportunity to live in harmony for at least their lives, and their children’s lives, it’s good to do what you can to reduce your carbon emissions. Even the small changes that are made could add a few more hundred years here or there.
With that being said, here are some helpful ways in which to keep your carbon emissions low when driving.
Drive less
A more obvious option when it comes to reducing your carbon emissions but it’s true. Driving less is going to help you reduce your carbon emissions, especially if you’re consciously taking fewer short journeys out. The more short journeys you’re doing, the more carbon emissions you’re putting out into the world.
Some journeys don’t need to be made by car either and it might be worth getting out on a bike or walking to and from the destination you need to get to.
While it might not have the biggest impact that other efforts might have, doing your bit to drive less can help greatly in trying to reduce the overall carbon footprint you have as a household.
Think about driving less and walking more or taking public transport where possible. You may also want to take advantage of ride-sharing services, which have become more popular in recent years.
Maintain your vehicle’s health and performance
The older the car is, the more it’s likely to cause some problems when it comes to your carbon emission contributions. However, if you’re maintaining the car in an effective manner, you’re more than likely going to help keep those carbon emissions at a healthier level.
To help maintain the vehicle so that it uses less carbon emissions, there are a number of things you can do. These include:
Change your engine oils regularly
Make sure to replace any air filters where needed
Check tire pressure to ensure it’s at a good level
A well-maintained vehicle matters and can make your car’s fuel economy a lot better if it’s looked after properly. That means taking it in for regular maintenance checks and services when needed. Don’t ignore any of those flashing dashboard lights that crop up and you perhaps push to the back of your mind to address later.
Drive with more efficiency
When it comes to your carbon emissions, you want to drive in a much more efficient manner where possible. That includes addressing any rapid acceleration and harsh braking. Harsh braking often happens when you’re too apprehensive of drivers around you or you’re not preempting hazards early enough.
Try to be more aware of the hazards and dangers ahead of you on the road to avoid having to brake so harshly. Make sure you’re driving at the space limit and not jumping from a low speed to a high one quickly. You should be gradually bringing your speed up when approaching a road with a bigger speed limit.
Aggressive driving is not only harmful to fuel consumption but can also make for an unpleasant experience when on the road. Think about how you are on the road and try to keep your emotions calm and under control when driving. Otherwise, it’s not just a danger to you but to all those around you.
You may want to consider adding on and upgrading your car to help it perform better. For example, if you’re looking to lower your carbon emissions, investing in a muffler for your engine might be worthwhile.
Use a cleaning agent
A cleaning agent is a good use of money to spend when investing in your vehicle and ensuring you reduce your carbon emissions where possible. With a cleaning agent, it helps to remove harmful deposits that are left behind in your engine and increase emissions as a result.
This cleaning agent can easily be added to your fuel system so that it works as you continue to use your vehicle. It’s something that’s not often done but not only helps with emissions but the maintenance of your car’s health.
Make use of the best fuel possible for the vehicle
Fuel is something that is swallowed up and churned out by your vehicle. Over time, if you’re using the very basic fuel available, you might find that the vehicle struggles to perform well as it gets older.
There are some premium versions of fuel that will often be available at gas stations while these ones might be a little more expensive by the gallon.
However, it’s a good investment if you’re able to do it because your vehicle will perform better for longer, and in the long run, that’s going to benefit your contributions to carbon emissions.
Change the oil
Let’s expand a little more on the maintenance of your vehicle. While it’s been mentioned above, not every vehicle owner knows or is aware of how often their engine oil should be changed. The engine oil is and should be considered as the lifeblood of the vehicle and therefore one that is essential to keep on top of.
It lubricates the engine and without it, you put your vehicle at risk, as well as contributing to the underperformance. It should be changed at regular intervals in order to keep the vehicle running at an optimum efficiency. It’s recommended that you change the oil every 5,000-15,000 you do.
You also check within your vehicle’s handbook on how to replace the oil and what oil to use in order to help maximize the efficiency of the vehicle and the engine itself.
Keep an eye on your air conditioning system
Whether it’s cranking up the heating in the early, winter mornings or having the cool air blasting in the height of summer, it’s good practice to keep an eye on your air conditioning system.
It’s useful because knowing what levels you put the air conditioning on and how often you do so, will likely make the engine work harder and increase those vehicle emissions.
Consider turning off the air conditioning a few miles before you reach your destination. Unless your window screen says otherwise, it might do well to switch it off so that you save on your vehicle emissions here and there.
With that being said, you also want to make sure you’re using your air conditioning regularly just so that you avoid any expensive repair jobs in the garage. If your vehicle has a climate control system, then this is going to be better to use than to opt for rolling down the windows. This creates a drag on the vehicle, which impacts your fuel consumption.
Remember the air filter
As mentioned above, your air filter is one that you should be paying attention to where possible. When an air filter gets clogged up, much like your air conditioning in the home, it’s going to reduce the amount of airflow that the engine is getting.
That can lead to a number of issues beyond just being a problem for your air conditioning. It could overheat the engine and other areas of the car which could cause it to break down.
Therefore, it’s imperative to check your air filters at recommended service intervals. That way, you can get them changed and replaced as and when it’s needed. This will help avoid any blockages from happening.
Check your tires
Checking your tires is imperative when it comes to keeping your carbon emissions as low as possible.
If you’re keeping an eye on your tires, then you’ll be able to spot any problems with them and get them fixed sooner rather than later.
Tires over time will lose air in them and that reduces the grip that they have on the road. The vehicle will then need to work harder in order to maintain the speed and performance on the road.
Low pressure in your tires can also make driving your car dangerous, so it’s something you want to be proactive with where possible. Always check your vehicle handbook to know what levels your tires need to be at when pumping them up. Check them regularly and give them a visual and physical test when they’re cold to see if they easily bounce back when pushing them in.
Keeping your carbon emissions low when driving is definitely something you want to be hot on, especially for future generations. Everything that you can do is keep carbon emissions low, is going to be highly beneficial. So with that being said, make sure you’re keeping your emissions low while driving and using these tips to ensure you’re minimizing your impact.
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