This page will help provide the tools residents will need to help do their part. To try to make sustainable energy use enjoyable, this page will also feature contests, prizes and a way for residents to share what they’ve learned.

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Tips for Eco-Driving

(from www.drivewiser.ca, supported by Conserve Nova Scotia and Clean Nova Scotia)

Chill out

"Jackrabbit" starts and stops, i.e. fast starts and hard stops, increase your fuel consumption by up to 37% - but they only cut your travel time by 2.5 minutes!

A steady pace uses less gas. It also decreases your level of stress, and you don’t have to worry about being pulled over. The majority of energy used by an automobile is consumed during acceleration. That energy is lost every time the vehicle is forced to slow down unnecessarily – for example, if you approach other vehicles too quickly, or race towards red lights.

Accelerate smoothly when passing other cars and when merging with faster traffic.

Predict what is happening one block ahead of you.

Avoid hard braking by leaving plenty of room between your vehicle and the one in front of you.

Gear Up

Eco-driving is even easier in a standard: Set your car in motion without pressing down the throttle, shift to a higher gear as soon as possible and keep a steady speed. You will lower your fuel consumption.

If you have an automatic, try not to rev over 2500 rpm.

Driving at low revs means changing gears between 2000 and 2500 rpm. If your vehicle is not equipped with a tachometer, the following list provides some guidance:

• 1st gear: to get going (one vehicle length)
• 2nd gear: up to 25 kmph/ 15 mph
• 3rd gear: 25 - 40 kmph/ 15 - 25 mph
• 4th gear: 40 - 50 kmph/ 25 - 30 mph
• 5th gear: 50 kmph+/ 30 mph+

30 Seconds 'Til Take-off

Brush or scrape your windows before you turn on your car. Dress warmly on cold days.

Once a vehicle is running, the best way to warm it up is to drive it. With computer-controlled, fuel-injected engines, you need no more than 30 seconds of idling on winter days before driving away (as long as your windows are clear). Anything more wastes fuel and increases emissions.

Don't let your car warm up while stationary – You only need 30 seconds to warm your car up in your driveway before you drive away. Why? Other parts of the car need to be warmed up too.

The wheel bearings, steering, suspension, transmission and tires can only warm up as you drive the car.

Most importantly, the computer under the hood that monitors your emissions and regulates fuel consumption doesn’t turn on until the car has been in motion for 5-10 kms.

Eco-Maintenance Tips

A poorly maintained or malfunctioning car can release as much as 100 times the pollution of a well-maintained car.

You do the math

The following list shows the percentage of a tank full of gas that’s wasted by these common maintenance and driving problems. You can change all of these yourself!
• Dirty oil = 12% 
• Dirty air filter = 10%
• Underinflated tires =  4%  (4 tires underinflated by 2 psi each)
• Speeds over 100km/hr = 20%
• Idling for 1 hour a week = 10%
• Every 100 lbs you carry =2%
 
Almost half your tank of gas can be used up simply by the abuse or neglect of your vehicle. You could pocket over $600 a year.
 

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