Saving and conserving energy should be everyones concern. I am prompted to give my slant on this subject as it relates to Driving and Driving Techniques. There are many ways to conserve energy and save money when Driving. We are primarily concerned with getting a better fuel consumption from each tankful and substantial longevity from our power point. Of course the best and most effective economic automotive strategy is to stay at home and have everything delivered but I guess there won't be many takers for this unique proposition? (1) Let's start with my favourite subject...Tyres. Under inflated Tyres enjoy a greater friction with the road leading to greater gas usage for each kilometre travelled. As well as this they wear out much more rapidly, give a rougher ride, particularly on Irish rural roads. Over inflated tyres also wear out rapidly and unevenly leading to more frequent replacement. Good for the tyre shop but not for you! Oh yes a soft tyre will pick up foreign bodies much more easily, leading to further replacement and expense. (2) An untrained Right Foot is a leading cause of excessive expenditure during all driving activity. Accelerating too hard, braking too hard, and driving too fast in general all contribute to excessive fuel usage and the corresponding increase in noxious emissions. Kyoto here we come? (3) The speed for optimum fuel consumption has been recognised over the years to be 55mph or approximately 90kph. As you increase your speed above this level your fuel consumption increases dramatically. (4) A poorly tuned engine will also use an excessive amount of fuel so the money spent on proper professional servicing will repay you in the end although at the time it may seem expensive. (5) Open windows and sun roofs contribute to drag and an increase in fuel consumption but clearly you can't drive safely if you are about to expire from heat exhaustion. Thankfully not something we experience too often here in Ireland. They do say though that the heatwaves experienced in Europe last year and this summer will be a regular feature by 2050! (6) Carrying piles of rubbish in either the cab or the boot of your car will increase your fuel consumption steadily over time so give your boot a make over every so often and clear it out of all but the essentials. (7) One more point about tyres. If you are carrying extra passengers and luggage, even for a short journey you should increase the tyre pressures. This will give a smoother, safer ride for all concerned and avoid excessive tyre wear. This latter point is particularly relevant if you are planning on rural driving since you will have to deal with an especially Irish phenomenon, that of potholes. Sometimes these are as big as a garden pond and will damage your underside easily, not to mention the ecological impact of disturbing the resident fish, frogs and other amphibians. (8) Since we seem to be constantly exposed throughout the country to major road works, which is an admirable activity from a safety perspective, you should always switch off your engine if there is going to be more than a minor delay. Sitting for several minutes with the engine running wastes a lot of fuel and puts more greenhouse gas into the atmosphere than need be. (9) We have all experienced the "Are we there yet?" syndrome with our little treasures. Certainly children are not born with a sense of patience when it comes to surviving long journeys in a stuffy car or the realisation that a call of nature just can't be addressed at a moments notice on a Highway or Motorway.My final advice for energy conservation and non depletion of Bank Balance is to Plan your journey and the stops with Military precision taking a very large pre prepared picnic Hamper and a coolbox with a months supply of assorted drinks. This way everyone will be nourished and you the Driver will still be sane at the end of the Trip and hopefully will not have emptied your wallet! |
