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6 Ways to Reduce | The Road To Green | Tips to Reduce Car Emissions
How Emissions Threaten Health | More Articles

We at Fuel Savings-Green Emissions Technologies believe it's important to educate people on the health issues created by harmful emissions from all combustion engines. The following information represents what exposure to these gases present to your family:

How Emissions Threaten Health

Carbon monoxide binds to the hemoglobin molecule in blood and inhibits the transportation of oxygen in the body. High levels of carbon monoxide exposure have been shown to lead to visual impairment, reduced work capacity and mental dexterity, poor learning ability, nausea, headaches, dizziness, and even death (USEPA 1991). Carbon monoxide is especially dangerous to the elderly, people with cardiovascular disease or other circulation disorders, anemic individuals, young infants, and pregnant women (USEPA 1991). Hydrocarbons are volatile organic compounds that include benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes. While these compounds can cause dizziness, headaches, and loss of consciousness, the EPA has also identified benzene as a carcinogen and those exposed to benzene have an increased incidence of leukemia. Nitrogen oxides can cause shortness of breath and chest pains and increase a person’s susceptibility to respiratory infections and asthma. Long-term exposure can cause chronic lung disease.

Particulate matter, also found in off-road vehicle emissions, is detrimental in fine and coarse forms as it accumulates in the respiratory system, and can lead to decreased lung function, respiratory disease and even death (Janssen and Schettler 2003). Of the pollutants emitted by ORVs, particulates are of special concern because their small size makes them easily respirable and thus deliverable directly into the lungs, causing any number of the aforementioned maladies (NPS 2000).

6 Ways to Reduce Your Driving Emissions without Reducing Quality of Life

Here are six easy ways to reduce your emissions without affecting the quality of your daily commute.

Everybody loves a win-win situation and today we've got six of them for you. Six easy ways to reduce your emissions during your daily commute that won't involve sacrificing your current lifestyle in any way. You won't have to join any groups, bicycle in the snow, or sell your soul just to get a decent seat on the bus/train. While not all of these will bring a huge reduction in the emissions output of your vehicle, together you could be talking several thousands of pounds in reduced CO2 over the course of just one year. Let's start with some of the smaller tips and end with the most substantial.

Use Parallel Parking

Emission Reduction: 5 pounds of CO2 every 10 minutes it takes to find another parking space. This often forgotten skill is an easy way to slash five to ten minutes off your daily city jaunts if you are lucky enough to find a space. Too often people drive around looking for the best deal on parking lot fees or an easy pull-in parking spot, when they could just pull into a convenient parallel space on the street and feed the meter.

Use More Right Turns

Emission Reduction: Several hundred pounds of CO2 over the course of a year. It makes complete sense if you think about it. Turning right is often the easiest, quickest, and most convenient way to get around the city under the current U.S. rules of the road. It involves less wait, you don't have to worry about oncoming traffic (although you do have to watch for pedestrians), and you don't have as strict of traffic light rules to obey (unless you see the sign: "No Right On Red").

Reduce Engine Idle Time

Emission Reduction: 220 (4-cylinder) to 440 (8 cylinder) pounds of C02 a year for reducing just five minutes of idle time each day. The next time you are waiting for a train, dropping a friend off, or sitting in an unmoving traffic jam, shut your engine down until you're ready to go again. According to the EPA, the breaking point where idling time uses less gas than restarting your vehicle is around one minute. The Ford Eco-driving program in Europe claims just 20 seconds. Whether it is 20 seconds or one minute is arguable, but the point is, there is a lot of unnecessary idling going on these days when people are not going anywhere.

Turn Your Air Conditioner off Before You Get Where You're Going

Emission Reduction: Several pounds of CO2 over the course of a year. The extra gas used for your running the air conditioner on your vehicle does account for a slight increase in emissions. For each gallon of gas a vehicle burns, it is emitting about 20 pounds of carbon dioxide. While the emissions savings in shutting off your air-conditioner is not a whole lot, I personally believe that every bit counts. In order to follow this tip, you simply turn off your air conditioner, somewhere around five to ten minutes before reaching your destination. Leave your fan on if you like, as the charge from your air-conditioner will hold for a few minutes allowing cool air to continue to circulate. You will reduce emissions, save gas, and become more acclimated to the outside temperatures before you exit your vehicle. Talk about a win-win-win.

Switch to Four Day Work Week

Emission Reduction: 3,000 metric tons per week statewide, if adopted by 20 percent of companies. Many companies are loosening their ties to the traditional five day work week and allowing their employees to adopt a four week schedule where appropriate. Instead of going to work for an eight hour shift, you go for ten, and then get a three day weekend. Many companies are seeing the benefits of boosted employee morale with such programs and may consider it as a possibility if you only take the time to inquire about it.

Slow Down and Smell the Flowers

Emission Reduction: 20% of your vehicle's current carbon footprint. It is amazing to me that by just slowing down and driving moderately, we can reduce our vehicle's carbon footprint by up to 20 percent. Such a step involves linking your brain, brake, and accelerator together. This is referring to becoming completely aware during your daily commute. Remember that accelerating moderately and braking minimally will reduce you engine's output significantly, as will anticipating changes in traffic. Being aware of traffic and when you may need to stop will minimize the all-too-common stop and go (pound accelerator/slam brake) tendency of city driving.

The road to green: How to reduce emissions from your vehicle

Before we talk about reducing emissions from your vehicle, you need to know why this is important. All manner of activities, right from breathing to driving a car, generate carbon emissions in varying degrees. We need carbon dioxide, which essentially traps some of the sun's rays in the atmosphere, causing the planet to remain at a habitable temperature. However, in recent years, the amount of carbon dioxide humans have been generating, mainly by burning fossil fuels, has been accelerating at an alarming rate

This in turn has led to global warming and a whole host of other issues that we are only now beginning to comprehend

The average American generates around 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum. If we are to make a positive impact on climate changes, scientists estimate that this number should be reduced to 2.5 tonnes

One of the easiest ways we can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide generated is by re-looking at the way we use our vehicles. It takes up to one year for one tree to fix the carbon dioxide that 3 liters of gas would produce, and driving a mid sized 30 miles per gallon car at 12,000 miles per year, will release around 3.55 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

So, what can one do to reduce vehicle emissions?

Before stepping in to your car, think about if you really need to use it. Can you walk, bike or use public transport instead? If the answer is no, then plan your route efficiently, avoiding high traffic areas and trying to complete all your errands at one go.

When within the city, switch off your air conditioner and open your car windows. This in itself can save you up to 20% of fuel consumed.

Proper tire pressure can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions by an eight of a tonne a year. So keep a little tire gauge handy and check tire pressure often.

Clean out your trunk frequently. By loading your car with unnecessary equipment, you'll only be making it heavier, which in turn makes it consume more fuel. Unload the groceries and remove your golf clubs as soon as you get home. Once the ski season is over, remove ski racks and use detachable bicycle racks, as and when you need them.

And finally, where possible, carpool. Get others to share your ride, and take turns sharing theirs, so yours is not the only car driving around the block.

If you are thinking of purchasing a new vehicle, then the options are quite limitless. While buying a hybrid vehicle is a smart choice, if you need something different, then try selecting a fuel efficient vehicle from the class of vehicles of your choice. If possible, think of buying a smaller vehicle and renting/leasing a larger one when needed.

These are only some of the ways you can make a difference, not only to the amount of pollution and carbon emissions you will be producing, but also, in big savings to your wallet.

Tips to Reduce Your Car Emissions

The way you drive can make a big difference to the amount of pollution your car produces:

Keep your vehicle tuned to the manufacturer's maintenance guidelines
Don't wait to warm up your car — it is wasteful of fuel and is unnecessary if the vehicle is tuned
Don't fill the tank past the first click — expansion of the fuel can result in increased emissions
Drive cleaner cars with the latest emissions control equipment — ask your dealer
Remove excess weight from your vehicle (for example, sporting equipment or tools in the boot)
Keep the windows closed to minimize the drag and improve fuel efficiency
Keep track of fuel economy — a loss in economy usually means an increase in emissions
Try to reduce idling time — idling for about 30 seconds uses more fuel than it takes to start the engine
Avoid driving at peak times
Minimize trips and mileage — walk, cycle, carpool, use public transport
Plan trips so that you have one linked up trip rather than multiple trips
Avoid short trips — until your car is at normal operating temperature, it will emit excess pollution
Travel at moderate, steady speeds and avoid high speeds as they result in greater emissions
Don't rev the engine and avoid excessive acceleration and braking
Have your vehicle's emission control systems checked regularly (if fitted)

How Emissions Threaten Health

Carbon monoxide binds to the hemoglobin molecule in blood and inhibits the transportation of oxygen in the body. High levels of carbon monoxide exposure have been shown to lead to visual impairment, reduced work capacity and mental dexterity, poor learning ability, nausea, headaches, dizziness, and even death (USEPA 1991). Carbon monoxide is especially dangerous to the elderly, people with cardiovascular disease or other circulation disorders, anemic individuals, young infants, and pregnant women (USEPA 1991). Hydrocarbons are volatile organic compounds that include benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes. While these compounds can cause dizziness, headaches, and loss of consciousness, the EPA has also identified benzene as a carcinogen and those exposed to benzene have an increased incidence of leukemia. Nitrogen oxides can cause shortness of breath and chest pains and increase a person's susceptibility to respiratory infections and asthma. Long-term exposure can cause chronic lung disease.

Greenhouse & Tropospheric Gases	Environmental Impact & Health Risks	Avg % Reduction with Fitch
Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) a green-house gas, produced by incomplete combustion.	Climate Change and carcinogenic.	5 - 12 %
Carbon Monoxide (CO) a toxic by-product of incomplete combustion.	Climate Change and carcinogenic.	10 - 30%
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) also a greenhouse gas, which is formed by the interaction between oxygen and nitrogen in high temperatures and pressures found in engine combustion chambers.	Contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone & smog.	5 - 18%
Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂) which contributes to the formation of acid rain, dependent upon sulfur content of fuel (typically low for cars and trucks).	Contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone & smog.	5 - 10%
Hydrocarbons which can release CO₂ and produce NOx.	Climate Change. Contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone & smog and is respiratory irritant.	10 - 50%
Particulate Matter is a complex mixture of airborne particles that differ in size, origin and chemical composition.	Contributes to the greenhouse effect & global warming. Exposure may cause heart and lung disease, and may worsen acute and chronic bronchitis and asthma.	5 - 25%

If It’s Got an Engine, There’s a Fitch That Fits!

Education

How Emissions Threaten Health

6 Ways to Reduce Your Driving Emissions without Reducing Quality of Life

Use Parallel Parking

Use More Right Turns

Reduce Engine Idle Time

Turn Your Air Conditioner off Before You Get Where You're Going

Switch to Four Day Work Week

Slow Down and Smell the Flowers

The road to green: How to reduce emissions from your vehicle

Tips to Reduce Your Car Emissions

How Emissions Threaten Health

More Articles…