10 tips to save fuel and reduce your carbon footprint

This is known as eco-driving and the more you can do this the better, because it saves you money as well as helping the environment by reducing your carbon footprint.

Eco-driving is beginning to be taught more and more on your Driving Lessons Sheffield as well as other areas in the UK. We have 10 excellent tips to reduce your carbon footprint and save you money on fuel:

1. Regular Services- Regularly servicing your car will make sure it keeps running at maximum efficiency. This may cost you to service it but it will save you a lot more money on fuel.

2. Tyre Pressure- This is another vital element when maintaining your car, the more inflated the wheels are the easier it is to roll them and less fuel is used. So think about that when on your Driving Lessons!

3. Lose Weight- No we don't mean you, we mean in your car! Got anything in the boot that you don't need? Then take it out because it's costing you money and and reducing your car's fuel efficiency.

4. Streamline-The more streamline your car is the less fuel it uses, placing roof boxes on your car increases drag and it is harder for the car to get up to speed, resulting in more fuel! So if you don't need it then take it off. When on your Driving Lessons in Sheffield you will notice that there are head boards on the car, however this is a must because instructors need to make other drivers aware they have a learner driver in the car.

5. Turn the engine off- If you have the engine on unnecessarily then you are using more fuel than you need to. If you are sat waiting for someone, or in a queue of traffic that doesn't look like it is going to move for couple of minutes then turn your engine off and save fuel.

6. Accelerate and avoid- After finishing your Driving Lessons you should make sure you stick to the same thing you are taught by your instructor. Accelerate smoothly, and plan ahead to avoid any unnecessary hard breaking and you will find yourself not filling up the petrol tank as much. Driving Schools try to drill this into pupil's heads because it makes them better driver and reduces Co2 emissions.

7. Air Conditioning- To save fuel air conditioning is better used at high speeds because you can barley notice a difference in fuel consumption but at low speeds it uses a lot more. So if it's a hot day and you are traveling through the city centre then put the windows down, it's a lot cheaper!

8. It pays to go slow- The faster you go the more fuel you use and the greater your carbon footprint becomes. Driving at 70mph uses up to 9% more fuel than at 60mph and 15% more than at 50mph. At 80mph you use up to 25% more fuel than going at 70! This may make you think twice before getting in the far right hand lane of a motorway and breaking the speed limit.

9. Change your gears earlier- Changing your gears earlier can reduce fuel consumption massively. On a diesel car you should be looking at changing your gears around 2,000 RPM and a petrol car a little higher at 2,500 RPM. This is what you are taught to do on your Driving Lessons Sheffield.

10. Consider alte
atives- If you only need to go around the corner then maybe you should consider alte
atives to your car, maybe walk or even use a push bike. It will keep you fit and healthy as well as reducing your carbon footprint resulting in you saving you money.