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The health of the environment is among the most pressing concerns of the modern era.

The UK government has committed itself to several steps designed to get the country’s emissions down to that much-hoped-for ‘net zero’ state, where we’re taking more carbon out of the atmosphere than we’re putting into it.

Motoring accounts for a sizeable chunk of overall emissions. According to Our World in Data, road transport accounts for 11.9% of the global total. In the UK, the average petrol car produces around 180g of CO₂ for every kilometre driven.

This latter figure varies according to the car being driven, and also according to the way in which it’s driven. If you want to reduce your emissions from driving, and live a more eco lifestyle, then there are number of steps that you might take.

Drive Less

There are certain trips that simply don’t require a car. If you’re regularly driving to places that you could feasibly walk, or take the train, then it might be time to re-examine the habit. Similarly, if you’re travelling to the same place as several other people, then why not set up a carpool rotation? At the same time as reducing your carbon footprint, this will also help you to save money.

Keep the vehicle maintained

If your car is in good shape, then it’ll tend to be more fuel efficient. Staying on top of maintenance is therefore an effective way of reducing your environmental impact. Make sure that tyres are fully inflated, and that they are regularly replaced. This is easy nowadays, as you can buy car tyres online. This will ensure that you’re able to grip the road effectively, which will in turn reduce your emissions (and improve your safety, too).

Use the Right Gear

If you’re driving in a lower gear, you’ll tend to get better acceleration. But this will come at the expense of fuel efficiency and emissions. Generally speaking, you should be driving in the highest gear that doesn’t cause the engine to stall. As you become more experienced driving a particular car, you’ll learn exactly where to strike the balance.

Avoid Aircon

Aircon is a nice luxury to have, but the energy it uses doesn’t come from nowhere. If you want to be truly environmentally conscientious, then you’ll leave it off.

Don’t speed

Speeding is not only dangerous, but wasteful. You’ll spend fuel getting up to a given speed, and then you’ll have to apply the brakes that much harder when you get to a junction or corner. Stop-start driving is a huge predictor of air quality and pollution – so don’t do it.

Don’t carry more weight than you need to

If you leave heavy objects in the boot of your car for long periods of time, then you’ll expend more fuel shifting all of that extra mass. This is something that tradespeople are particularly vulnerable to; take the time to unload that van overnight.

We should also note that carrying around a full tank of fuel everywhere you go will mean that you’re carrying superfluous weight. Plus, if you fill your tank right to the brim, you increase the likelihood that a little bit of vapour will escape into the atmosphere.

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