How to be a greener driver

Shopping for a new car?

The Green Vehicle Guide rates each vehicle for s greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution levels and provides a simple five star rating system which indicates the vehicle’s overall performance.

Find out about all the hybrid cars which are currently on the market or coming soon.

Maximise your fuel efficiency 

• Drive less – Cut out short journeys to help the planet, your wallet and your health. Vehicles are least fuel efficient and most polluting at the start of trips and on short trips. A reason for this is that catalytic converters (which reduce air pollution emissions) do not operate properly until they have warmed up. Carpool or use public transport when you can. You'll save money, reduce congestion on the roads and help cut greenhouse emissions.
• Drive smoothly - Stop/start driving is much less efficient and more polluting than driving at a constant speed. Take it easy on the accelerator - more revs equals more petrol use.
• Use air-conditioning sparingly – Air-conditioners use about 10% extra fuel. However, at speeds of over 80 km/h, use of air-conditioning is better for fuel consumption than an open window which creates aerodynamic drag.
• Travel light - The more weight a vehicle carries the more fuel it uses. Leave heavy items at home when you don't need them.
• Maintain your car and tyres – A regularly serviced car will emit fewer greenhouse gases and pollutants. If your tyres are under-inflated they create more rolling resistance and your car uses more fuel.
• Don’t speed - Fuel consumption increases significantly over about 90 km/h. If your car is fitted with cruise control use it during highway driving to maintain a steadier speed and save fuel.
• Minimise drag - Additional parts on the exterior of a vehicle such as roof racks and spoilers, or having the window open, can increase air resistance and fuel consumption by over 20%. Take off roof and bike racks when not in use.
• Don’t idle - Most cars don't need to be "warmed up" and this simply wastes fuel. Once on the road, minimise fuel wasted in idling by turning off the engine whenever your car is stationery for an extended period of time. By having the engine switched off, even for a short period, you will save more fuel than is lost from the burst of fuel involved in restarting the engine. 

Offset your emissions

Carbon offsets are a way for individuals or entities to compensate for their own emissions by paying a little to support emission reductions elsewhere – and in the process make them carbon neutral. Search for an organisation to offset your emissions.