What you can do
Greenhouse gas emissions are directly related to your car's fuel consumption, so choosing a fuel-efficient car and being responsible about how you use it will reduce its impact on the environment.
If you're buying a new car, choose a fuel-efficient vehicle from the class of vehicle that best suits your needs ...
- Consult the fuel consumption sticker displayed on new and used vehicles.
- Check and compare the car's environmental credentials using the federal government's Green Vehicle Guide.
For a range of carbon-offset products and services now available in association with Greenfleet, see our Program Partners.
Fleet managers - try before you buy!
Use our CO2 Cost Cutter to compare fuel consumption and carbon emissions from your current fleet with vehicles from the Green Vehicle Guide.
Some tips for fuel-efficient driving:
- Ensure your car is tuned and serviced regularly. The worst polluters on our roads tend to be old cars. If you do drive an older car, help the environment by making sure it is tuned according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
- Reduce your speed. Driving more slowly reduces fuel consumption. In fact, travelling at 110kph uses up to 25% more fuel than cruising at 90kph. For city driving, 60kph is the most fuel efficient speed.
- Drive smoothly. Avoid hard accelerating and heavy braking as it uses up a lot more fuel.
- Travel lightly and remove unnecessary items from your car to reduce weight - those golf clubs in the back and the surfboard on the roof create extra load and reduce aerodynamics. This will improve your fuel consumption and reduce emissions.
- Make sure your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure, as soft tyres cause higher fuel consumption.
- Filling up past the first click of the fuel nozzle means that fuel can be lost through the overflow pipe when you accelerate or go around corners.
- Consider how much you use your air conditioner - it can use up to 10% extra fuel.
- Avoid peak-hour. If traffic is stationery, switch off the engine, even if you stop for a short time. Idling wastes fuel.
Car-pool wherever possible, use public transport or ride a bicycle.
- Motorbikes and powered scooters are a very fuel-efficient form of transport, with reduced environmental impact.
What about the home or office?
- Purchase accredited Green Power - search for an accredited retailer in your area at www.greenpower.gov.au
- Turn appliances off at the switch rather than using standby settings.
- Empty rooms need no lights - switch off the lights when you leave the room, at home and at work!
- Consider telephone-, video- or internet-conferencing instead of travelling to meetings. You'll probably save money and staff time, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Make sure your home is well insulated and seal gaps around doors / windows permanently or with draught stoppers.
- Turn the heating and air conditioning down - regulate your temperature with clothing instead.
- Replace lightglobes with energy efficient gobes.
- Search for the stars! Look for the energy efficiency stars when you purchase new appliances - more stars means a more efficient appliance. Find out more and search for products at www.energyrating.gov.au
- Take shorter showers - you'll save hot water, which means saving energy as well as water.
- Buy local, in-season produce.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. For more tips on how to reduce greenhouse emissions around your home or office visit any of the following websites:
