Eco-Friendly Driving

There are many ways in which we can be more eco-friendly. Everyone knows of the impact that recycling can have, while making a few small changes in how we live our lives can also make a difference. Here at Eden, we put a big focus on eco-friendliness, too, not only in the cars we sell but how we do things day-to-day.

But if you’re looking to make driving more eco-friendly, how do you go about it? In this article, we’re going through some of the small steps that you can take to make your driving as efficient as possible.

Remove weight

You can make a difference to your car’s efficiency and eco-friendliness overall by removing any items that aren’t being used in your vehicle. It could be coats that you don’t wear, umbrellas that are broken or even bags that barely leave the car - bring them all out and you’ll remove the weight that your car has to push along.

Of course, this isn’t going to make the biggest of differences but in being more eco-friendly, even the smallest of changes can help to make things more efficient.

Easy-going driving

A good way to boost eco-friendliness is to change the way you drive. Shifting gear a little earlier will help to reduce stress on your car’s engine and we’d recommend not revving it too hard, either, as this causes excess fuel consumption.

You could also change the way you approach different driving conditions. For instance, if you’re coming up to steep hill, try accelerating upwards and then lifting off the throttle just before the crest. Then, coast slightly at the top before heading down the other side. It can save a little fuel and, again, this is all about those smaller gains.

Make sure tyres are inflated correctly

Having an under-inflated tyre will play a big role in reducing your car’s eco-friendliness. To make sure your vehicle is rolling as effectively as can be, make sure that your tyres are inflated properly. You’ll find the correct pressures for your car in the vehicle handbook, or often on a panel situated behind the fuel filler door.

Simply adjust the tyre pressure accordingly and you’ll know that your car is able to roll as efficiently as possible. Or, if you’d like a professional to take a look, get in touch with the Eden team who can assist and direct you to our servicing centre.

Try not to idle your car

Idling a vehicle is never an eco-friendly option, so if you’re stationary try to switch your engine off. Many of the cars that we have here at Eden feature an automatic start/stop system which will switch the engine on and off when it senses the vehicle isn’t in motion, but if your car doesn’t have this then you’ll need to take a more active role.

Idling vehicles still produce carbon dioxide, after all, and in built-up areas - as well as those near schools or hospitals - simply switching your car’s engine off can help to make a sizeable difference in air quality.

Keep on top of servicing

A car is kept at its most efficient when it is serviced regularly. This ensures that all core components are running as smoothly as they can be while flagging up any potential issues which could be contributing to higher emissions.

So make sure that you keep on top of routine servicing to keep your car in the best shape possible. Here at Eden, we provide a variety of servicing options and you can even take out a full plan to make sure that you’re covered at all times.

Think of an alternative

One of the best ways of reducing the impact of your car is to use it sparingly. Of course, doing longer journeys is always going to be comfier by car, but if you’re only nipping around the corner then maybe you could cycle or walk.

Share the ride

You can spread the eco-friendliness by sharing the ride, too. If you’re going in the same direction as a friend or family member it makes a lot more sense to car-share as you’re reducing the effect that transportation has on the environment while reducing the number of cars on the road during peak times.

If you know of work colleagues who all live in a similar area you could always set up a car-share scheme to take this idea further.

Here at Eden, we provide cars that have a real focus on eco-friendliness and if you’d like to find out more then head to the website where you’ll find our latest available vehicles, more information on pricing and all of our key contact information.