The financial crisis means a few of us are tightening our belts and possibly holding off on making serious investments for a more sustainable lifestyle. Hybrid car sales in the US dropped 31 per cent in January from the year before as families hang on to their older models.

And that's okay. But there is much that can still be done when it comes to driving with eco conscience. By adapting a few simple tips, you can reduce your emissions from transport, and save a few dollars from fuel consumption.

Ten tips to reduce emissions by changing your driving habits:

1. Decelerate your acceleration - A light right foot can significantly reduce your emissions as it takes less fuel to maintain a steady speed. Gauge traffic conditions well in advance and respond accordingly.
2. Reverse park - how many times have you driven around needlessly looking for an easy park. Hone your motoring skills and park confidently.
3. On the issue of parking, forget "convenience parking" - Shopping centre car parks are notorious for motorists driving around looking for a park "close to the shops", only to end up back at the entrance. It's only an extra few metres to carry your goods - and think about the benefits of a hasty exit after a day spent in crowded shops!
4. Slim down your booty - by emptying the boot, your car has to spend less fuel lugging around the heavy cargo. So leave the golf clubs behind unless you're sure you'll get in a round.
5. Get in and go - most newer models don't need to be warmed up before driving.
6. Switch gears - on manual transmissions, switching gears as soon as you can help reduce emissions.
7. Keep up the pressure - get your tyre pressure checked regularly, proper inflation can improve mileage by more than 3 per cent.
8. Top up gets a thumbs down - don't overfill your petrol tank. Petrol spillage release harmful fumes into the environment.
9. Tune in - by keeping your vehicle properly maintained, it will perform at optimum efficiency, improving fuel efficiency and reducing emission.
10. Grade your Oil - Use good quality, energy-conserving EC oils with the viscosity grade recommended in the Owner's Manual.

Source: Green Pages

3.21 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."