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Doing your bit
There are lots of easy steps you can take to help improve air quality in the region today, by using more sustainable methods of transport, such as walking, cycling or taking the bus, and by being more energy efficient around the home, including using energy saving light bulbs and turning off electrical items when not in use. We can all do our bit, if everyone contributes and makes these small changes it will make a big difference to our local environment!
Eco-driving is also a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, and we have provided some tips below to help you get from a to b in your car and still be more environmentally friendly. You could even try car sharing with friends or work colleagues or log on to the Car Share South Yorkshire website, www.caresharesouthyorkshire.com, which offers help to find a car share buddy.
Hints and tips
- Turning off lights, televisions, DVD players, computers and other electrical items when not in use
- Turning down the central heating slightly (by as little as 1 or 2 degrees)
- Filling your dish washer and washing machine with a full load
- Filling the kettle with only as much water as you need
- Going for a run rather than drive to the gym
- Fitting energy saving light bulbs
- Car sharing to work, or for the kids school run
- Using the bus or a train rather than the car
- Have fun! Ride your bike instead of using the car
- Walking as an alternate to driving your car improves your health as well as improving air
- Care for your car with regular tune-ups, changing the oil and checking tyre inflation – this can reduce your car’s emissions by more than half
- In hot weather get fuel when it’s cool. Refueling during cooler periods of the day or in the evening can prevent petrol fumes from heating up and creating ozone.
Eco – Driving
Motorists can contribute to improving air quality, and save money on fuel costs, by using eco-driving techniques, such as:
- changing gear at around 2000-2500 revs for modern petrol engines, or around 1500-2000 revs for modern diesel engines
- accelerating and braking smoothly
- anticipating traffic flow to avoid unnecessary gear changes
- maintaining a steady speed whilst using the highest gear possible
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