CAIRO: Even though, Eco Options Egypt continues to support public transportation, carpooling and cycling, we realize that we all need to use our own cars sometimes. Egyptians are driving more and more, while there is an increased awareness of air quality and pollution, which to a large extent, stems from transportation exhausts by cars, vans and trucks. Automobile manufacturers have made significant progression at amending their cars throughout the years, by improving exhaust emissions controls and making more fuel efficient engines. This isn't enough though, driving a fuel efficient car is one way to contribute to better air quality, but you could always improve that by driving in a greener way. We've researched the best green driving techniques, so we can all decrease our guilt factor as we stir up the engine to trek across town to run errands or visit a friend. Before you embark on your trip: 1-Make sure that you plan your route to avoid congested roads. 2-Do not overfill your tank as it will evaporate and contribute to air pollution 3-Keep tires properly inflated (to the manufacturer's recommendation) to conserve fuel and reduce tread wear and check regularly especially before long trips. 4-Keep the car and engine well tuned to maintain its efficiency. 5-Ensure you've had your oil checked on schedule as it can determine how quickly your car burns fuel. While driving: 1-Maintain a steady speed or use cruise control whenever possible (except when going down hill!) 2-Avoid idling as it can consume more fuel than starting up. 3-Remove excess weight as it makes the engine work harder and thus consume more fuel. It's thought that every 22 kilograms reduce fuel efficiency by 1%. Remove unnecessary items in your trunk, maybe it's time to give it a de-cluttering session? 4-Accelerate smoothly and slowly to avoid any unburned gas from escaping or wasting fuel. 5-Try to coast while anticipating stops instead of braking hard. 6-Close windows and open the inside vents whenever possible. 7-Park in the shade while leaving a bit of the windows rolled down to allow for the current to flow inside and outside and thus prevent the heat from being trapped inside. 8-Roll down your window if you're not on a highway (and the temperature is no where near 40oC). For the adventurous ones, we came across an interesting controversial technique called ‘drafting'; where you tailgate a speeding car (the recommended green speed is 90 km/hr) to cut down on wind resistance and thus gas consumption. We don't recommend it as it can be dangerous, but it's worth knowing. While changing habits isn't an easy task, we ask you to consider doing all or some of the simple above mentioned tips to enjoy a guilt free green ride. ** Published with permission from Eco Options Egypt BM
