Transportation

The average vehicle produces three times its weight in carbon dioxide (CO₂) every year. In fact, vehicles that are poorly driven and maintained produce even more carbon dioxide (CO₂) which is one of the principal greenhouse gases that contributes to the effects of climate change.

Seek out alternatives to driving your vehicle.

Carpool. Check out Canadian van-pools, rideshares and car co-ops [English only]. Use public transit.Avoid driving. Use non-motorized transport (cycling, walking, running, rollerblading, skateboarding etc.) to go to work and to do errands.

Maintain Your Vehicles.

A recent study shows that cutting corners on vehicle maintenance can actually cost you up to $215 per year for a mid-sized car. Reducing maintenance by 15 % will save $65 in annual maintenance costs, but could increase fuel consumption by more than 9 %.

Reduce Vehicle Use Where Possible.

Be efficient in planning and try to accomplish more in a single trip, rather than taking multiple trips from your business.

Use Alternative Fuels (ethanol, methanol, natural gas, propane)

They are cleaner fuels and do not put as much pollution into the air and reduce emissions. Some of them even produce less carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas. Also, they can all be made from resources that we have here in Canada – natural gas, coal or corn – so we depend less on oil from other countries. To find a gas station near you that sells alternative fuels, click here.

Carefully Consider All Options For Business Travel.

Try to carpool to meetings, cut down on routine business trips and replace flights with train travel, where possible. Traveling by air uses four times as much energy per passenger kilometre as traveling by car, and 12 times as much as traveling by train.

Encourage Alternative Transportation

Look at company incentives such as free or discounted bus passes and shower facilities to encourage the adoption of alternatives.

Reduce Your Driving Speed.

Reducing speed from 100 km/h to 90 km/h improves fuel economy by 10%, and going from 120 km/h down to 90 km/h can save 23% on fuel consumption.

Accelerate Smoothly And Moderately.

Fast acceleration uses more fuel. Never put the “pedal to the metal” unless your life is in danger. Doing so can burn as much as 50% more gas than a relatively smooth start. Aggressive driving, rapid acceleration, or quick stops has been shown to increase fuel use by about 39%, for a time saving of only 4%. Maintain the same pressure on the accelerator when climbing hills; let momentum, rather than extra fuel take you to the top.

Avoid Use Of Remote Car Starters.

They promote unnecessary idling.

Avoid Use Of The Air Conditioning.

It can increase fuel consumption by more than 20% in city driving. Consider using the vehicle’s ventilation system and options such as sunroof and tinted windows.

Avoid Idling.

Turn off the car if you will be stopped for more than 10 seconds and you are not in traffic. In winter, idle for a maximum of 30 seconds. Idling a car can:

• cause spark plug fouling which decreases fuel efficiency by 4% to 5%.
• increase engine wear and tailpipe emissions.
• create excess emissions and may damage the catalytic converter.

Use Cruise Control

You will save fuel at highway speeds by reducing excess gas pedal activity.

Use Overdrive And High Gears For Better Efficiency.

While driving, strive for lowest engine rpm at a given road speed by selecting the highest gear in which the vehicle will operate properly. Unless the manufacturer says not to, operate overdrive automatic transmissions in the overdrive mode, not in lower gears.

Avoid Excessive Braking.

Riding the brake wastes gas and prematurely wears down brake shoes. Dragging brakes can decrease fuel efficiency by up to 40%.Keep a reasonable distance between your car and other cars. When slowing down, lift off the accelerator early and take advantage of the car’s momentum. Getting back to cruising speed from rolling uses far less gas than stopping and then starting again.

Choose Smooth Road Surfaces

They offer less resistance than dirt or gravel surfaces. Smooth road surfaces can reduce fuel consumption by 10 to 30%.

Use Radial Tires

They have less rolling resistance which makes for smoother rides and improves fuel efficiency.

Properly Inflate Tires

Operating a vehicle with just one tire under-inflated by 6 psi (40kPa) can reduce the life of the tire by 10,000 km and decrease the vehicle’s fuel efficiency.

Avoid Extra Load And Resistance.

More weight equals more fuel consumption. Remove toolboxes, extra tires, bags of sand, etc. when they're not needed. Also remove unnecessary weight from the roof racks and other attachments if not in use. Driving with windows down at speeds over 50 km/h increases the drag on the car.

Use A Block Heater

In the winter to warm the engine before you start it. A cold engine is at its worst in terms of fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. Block heaters can improve overall winter fuel economy by as much as 10%.