I love my car.  I love it on days when I drive past pedestrians walking through rain, sleet and snow.  I love it because it lets me sleep in an extra half hour every morning since I don’t have to catch a bus.  I love it because it lets me go where I want, when I want. 

Sure, I understand that a single person taking her car to work and back every day is a terrible strain on the environment.  I know I am using more than my fair share of emissions.  Still, I wouldn’t give up my car for anything.  So how do those of us who aren’t willing to take the bus or carpool do our part for the environment?  It turns out the way we drive can have a big influence on how our cars effect the environment.

Eco-driving

Eco-driving or green driving is a series of actions you can take to become a more careful driver resulting in fewer emissions and less wasted fuel.  Not to mention the money you’ll save at the pump.  Studies show the average driver can reduce the fuel they use by up to 25 per cent by following the guidelines of eco-driving.

Stop and Start

Avoid hard braking and quick acceleration.  Anticipate what the traffic around you is doing, so you can stop and start gradually.  When you drive smoothly, you reduce wear on your brakes, save fuel and create a safer driving situation.