Transport and Travel

Trains, planes and automobiles!

Driving environmentally is about maker smarter transport choices.  If you have the choice to get out of the car you should do it.   If you are unsure of the alternatives, try this website that will find them for you:

http://directgov.transportdirect.info/Web2/home.aspx?repeatingloop=Y

If you can’t then you can drive smarter in the way you drive your car.

Some tips on driving more responsibly:

• Check your tyres are inflated to the correct volume!
• Ensure your tyres treads are not worn down!
• Don’t drive with an unnecessarily over loaded car (excess in boot, bike racks or roof racks)!
• Drive at the speed limit!
• If you are stuck in traffic, turn your engine off whilst stationary (if over a minute)!
• Downsize your car, switch to diesel or consider alternative fuels!
• Plan your route carefully and know where you are going to avoid getting lost!
• Avoid driving in rush hour when possible!

CO2 emissions and cars!

You may have noticed that on your registration documents for your car there is information on the CO2 emissions per mile or km.  In fact, car companies are using this information to try and sell you cars, telling you the emissions as if they are at a good level even if they are not.

In reality, some cars will be better than others, the smaller the engine size, the less turbo etc… it has the lower the emissions.  Newer cars also tend to be better.  But how do they compare?

5 of the lowest emitting cars (data supplied  by carpages.co.uk)

5 of the highest emitting cars:

If you are unsure of your cars emissions, the DVLA website can tell you:

http://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/application?origin=vehicleEnquiryInfo_en.jsp&event=bea.portal.framework.internal.portlet.event&pageid=Vehicle+Enquiry&portletid=VehicleEnquiry&portletns=VehicleEnquiry_en&wfevent=link.next

Here is a guide on buying a car with lower CO2 emissions:

http://www.whatcar.com/green-cars/

Alternative Car Guide

A guide to all types of alternative fuel cars: http://www.whatgreencar.com
The pro’s and cons of Hybrids: http://www.preventclimatechange.co.uk/hybrid-vehicles.html

Flying

I would never suggest we stop going on holiday (though I would encourage you to consider UK holidays as an alternative), some countries depend on our tourism for their economy.  But please do avoid short haul flights, they are worse per km on green house gas emissions than long haul flights and there are often alternatives.  If you do have to fly, consider offsetting the emissions.  There are many offset companies out there, some good some bad and some dreadful.  Three that I would consider are:

• http://www.carbonneutral.com/cncalculators/flightcalculator.asp#CarbonNeutral_Flights_Calculator
• http://www.co2balance.uk.com/co2calculators/rail-travel
• http://www.jpmorganclimatecare.com

On your bike!

If you are concerned about cycling somewhere due to the roads, check out this link.  It will help you identify a safer way to travel by bike:

http://directgov.transportdirect.info/Web2/JourneyPlanning/FindCycleInput.aspx

If you are unsure of which type of bike to buy, take a look at this link:

http://www.thecyclingexperts.co.uk