Put the brakes on climate change

9 December 2010

Millions of us drive while fretting about the car's effect on the environment. Tony Bosworth, Transport campaigner, explains how to reduce your environmental impact.

What difference can I make individually?

Think about how much you really need to use your car. Reduce journeys by sharing rides, walking and cycling more or taking the bus or train.

About town

For frequent short journeys like a school run an electric car could be best (see Going Green). They're quiet, emit no exhaust-pipe pollution, and can cost as little as 1p per mile to run.

Long hauls

A hybrid car uses petrol on the open road but switches to electric power in city-centre driving. Recharging happens automatically when the petrol engine is used.

Power plants

In some areas you can already buy biodiesel which comes from waste oils and oily crops. Thanks to a 20p tax cut biodiesel is the same price as ordinary diesel. Standard diesel engines don't need to be modified and you can even make your own homebrew biodiesel - download instructions (PDF† format - 123K).

Bioethanol is made mainly from crops like sugar beet and wheat grain. A blend of bioethanol and petrol could be available in the second half of this decade.

Biodiesel and bioethanol are carbon savers compared to conventional fuels. The carbon dioxide emitted when the fuel is burned is reabsorbed as new plants are grown.

Cars running on liquid petroleum gas (LPG) are the most widely available alternative to petrol. They have lower impact on air quality and don't pay the London Congestion charge. There are currently around 1,300 LPG refuelling sites in the UK.

Small is beautiful

If you drive a car, make sure it is as fuel-efficient as possible. You get a reduced rate of Vehicle Excise Duty for smaller, more efficient cars so it makes cash sense too.

And don't forget, a technical fix isn't the end of the story. Try leaving the car at home.

Highway codes

For more information about:

• technologies and financial incentives
• map of where to get cleaner fuels
• grants towards purchase of LPG cars and hybrids

contact the Energy Savings Trust.

For reading (on the train)

• The walking bus. A safe way for children to walk to school answers all your questions about setting up a neighbourhood walking bus for juniors.

This is based on an extract from Friends of the Earth's supporter magazine Earthmatters (Summer 2004). Join Friends of the Earth and receive your own regular copy.

Read more green driving tips from the Environmental Transport Association >

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