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Sustainable Wales' Transport tips Driving for a change

"Cars are responsible for a fifth of the UK's emissions of CO2 and the average family car in the UK produces 4.5 tonnes of greenhouse gases a year."
"Around 60% cars on the road at any one time have only one occupant."

We all need to get around but diesel and petrol fumes dirty the air we breathe, increasing respiratory diseases in people and damaging natural habitats: There are plenty of ways that we can reduce the amount of pollution created from transport.

1. Walk! Work out if you really need to take the car:

"If road traffic grows at its current rate we will see 48.2 million tonnes of carbon emitted into the atmosphere in 2010, compared to the 39.6 million tonnes that was released in 1990." Walking instead of driving is a great way of fitting in a little exercise where you normally wouldn't have. If you have to drive try to drive more slowly. Driving at 50mph uses between 25% and 30% less fuel than 70mph.

2. Public transport.

Use it whenever possible.

3. Think of other environmentally friendly modes of transport.

What about cycling, or even skating? At least with these methods you don't have to search for a parking space! "BBC Radio 4's 'You and Yours' has chosen the Bicycle as the most significant technological innovation since 1800."

4. Car share.

Create less congestion and emissions by offering to give someone a lift: "Around 60% of cars on the road at any one time only have one occupant." You can visit www.liftshare.com and register your details, either as someone in need of a lift or someone with a space in their car.

5. Car clubs.

You can also join a car club. Carplus can put you in touch with a local scheme and give you support and information if you want to set up your own car club. Visit www.carplus.org.uk or The Community Car Share Network www.carclubs.org.uk

6. Drive more slowly:

"Driving at 50mph means your emissions will be lowest. Driving at 70mph will rapidly increase your emissions. It can cost you up to 24% more in fuel to drive at 70mph compared to 50%." Find more fuel-saving tips from the Environmental Transport Association's 'Green Tips for Motorists' www.eta.co.uk/greentips

7. Tyres.

Make sure the tyres of your car are properly inflated. A huge amount of energy is lost in this way: "2 billion gallons of gasoline could be saved annually if 65 million car owners kept their tyres properly inflated."

8. Fuel saving devices.

Fit a fuel saving device into the fuel line that feeds your car engine and you can reduce emissions of polluting gases by 40% and save at least 10% on your fuel costs. Visit www.powerplus.be

9. Green cars.

Make the next car you buy a green one. Choose a high efficiency model. Or buy an electric car, an LPG (propane and butane powered or a hybrid car that runs on both petrol and electricity. Hybrid cars produce 75% less pollution than standard ultra-low emission vehicles and you can charge them at home. The Environmental Transport Association has a car buyers' guide with data on engine size, fuel consumption, noise and exhaust emissions for different models. www.eta.co.uk They say the greenest car available at the moment is the Honda Civic 1.4IMA Executive.

10. Reduce air travel.

Aviation still doesn't produce as much pollution as road transport but air travel is rapidly increasing: "Aviation is now the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions. The aviation industry expects to grow massively in the next 30 years and in the UK passenger numbers are set to mushroom from the current figure of 200 million a year to 500 million a year by 2030. The result is that carbon dioxide emissions will triple." The government predicts UK air passenger numbers will rise from 180 million to 475 million by 2030. Ask yourself before you decide to buy a flight if you really do need to fly. Is there another way? When thinking about holidaying, don't rule out your own country. The National Trust offers some great working holidays across the UK - archaeological holidays, beach cleans and surveys, construction and building, gardening holidays etc. Ring them on 0870 4292 429 or check out www.nationaltrust.org

11. Biofuels.

These are renewable sources of energy made from the vegetable oils of plants like sunflower and rape-seed: "The carbon dioxide released when the fuel is burnt is absorbed and is equal to that absorbed by the crop when growing." It is possible to run your car on these alternative fuels that don't pollute the environment as much as normal diesel or petrol. For example, wood pellets, ethanol and straight vegetable oil (SVO) are from renewable sources. You can mix SVO and diesel together but if you want to use straight vegetable oil you will have to convert your engine. With the ever-increasing demand for fuel and the diminishing natural sources of fossil fuels, the UK and EU governments are showing their support for biofuel. For information on how to make your own fuel and how to adapt your engine, visit www.journeytoforever.org However, further debate is required into how wide spread this should go! Many environmental and biodiversity questions remain.

There are a number of useful links with information on renewable fuels:

http://www.welsh-biofuels.co.uk/home.htm
www.allaboutbiodiesel.com/indexc.html
www.biodieselfillingstations.co.uk
www.sundancerenewables.org.uk

More information available from Sustainable Wales, 41 John Street, Porthcawl Tel. 01656 783405