Jan 13, 2011

Top 10 Tips On How To Practice Eco-Driving

1. Keep Your Tryes Inflated

I am sure you will agree that it is not fun to drive with flat tyres! But even slightly under inflated tyres can cause excessive drag and resistance which will cost you more in fuel and cost you more in tyre bills. But be cautious, over inflated tyres can be dangerous, be sure to check the recommended PSI.

2. Close Your Windows

This can help your car be more aerodynamic and help reduce your fuel costs especially when travelling faster than 50 mph your dog might like it but the environment does not.

3. Are You Cool Enough?

Air conditioning makes your engine work harder. Keep this in mind when considering your eco-driving.

4. Is Your Car Aerodynamic?

This goes on from my point about keeping your windows closed. Do you have any unnecessary racks or roof boxes that you could remove that would reduce drag?

5. Only Travel With What You Need

It is wise to keep your car stocked up with the essentials but if you find yourself being a taxi for the golf clubs and toolbox when they are not being used then consider leaving them at home.

6. Turn It off!

When waiting for someone or stuck in traffic then turn the engine off!

7. Use The Gears

Changing gears early will prevent the engine from drinking more fuel than is necessary.

8. Steady Driving

Avoid sharp acceleration and heavy breaking (unless you are on the race track).

9. Slower = Less Consumption

Driving at 50mph rather than 70 mph will reduce petrol consumption. For most cars 50 mph is about the most efficient speed to drive.

10. Break Or Don’t

If you keep a safe distance from the car in front then you can reduce the amount of unnecessary breaking which in effect uses more fuel. Also try using the gears to assist breaking.

Click here for more eco-driving tips!

Feel free to comment below if you have any more tips that you would like to share with the readers. Do you have an eco-friendly car? Do you already practice eco-driving? We love to hear from you!

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Aidan (31 Posts)

Internet entrepreneur, web services, marketing consultant, WowWe video marketing rep, eco warrior with Wikaniko and now dabbling with property investing!

About the Author

Internet entrepreneur, web services, marketing consultant, WowWe video marketing rep, eco warrior with Wikaniko and now dabbling with property investing!

33 Comments

Lesly Federici January 13, 2011 at 1:28 pm

Hey Aidan, Good tips, although tip 2 and 3 may be hard to do in warm weather... I can't imagine driving with the windows closed and the air conditioner off...to conserve energy. But, small sacrifices, right? Love that car covered in grass? LOL! Great blog by the way.. keep it up! .-= Lesly Federici´s last blog ..If You Train Yourself =-.
Donace@Hostgator Coupon January 13, 2011 at 1:51 pm

Think one thing that you also have to keep in mind is that a full petrol tank is not efficient. A 3/4 (depending on the car) is more efficient taking into account of weight and power needed to move. .-= Donace@Hostgator Coupon´s last blog ..My Everest =-.
Christine Casey January 13, 2011 at 4:30 pm

Hi Aidan, Some really good tips, although because of the type of vehicle I currently have, I am unable to apply some of them. The ones that I do follow (and know help with environment and/or fuel consumption) are to keep the tires inflated and keeping more distance from the vehicle in front of you. Appreciate you sharing :-) Christine .-= Christine Casey´s last blog ..New Year…Time for a Turning Point =-.
Aidan January 13, 2011 at 10:59 pm

Thanks for sharing! :)
Cori Hughes January 14, 2011 at 2:01 am

Hi Aidan, I have to say that I am failing miserably at numbers 9 and 10! I not only drive too fast, I also tailgate. I know, I know others hate people like me! I will work on it. Thanks for posting this, you have definitely given me something to work on and improve, as it is not only for safety reasons, but it is better for the environment. Love the blog! Cori .-= Cori Hughes´s last blog ..The Importance of Laughter- Michael Jackson- and Christmas =-.
Bryan McHeyzer January 16, 2011 at 10:08 am

Hi Aidan, My first visit here thanks to TSA. Excellent tips .... unfortunatly we do use our vehicles far too much. I am a big offender ...the unfortunate thing is I do care about our enviroment. Must make an effort to remember your tips. Good post. Cheers Bryan
Dr. Erica Goodstone January 17, 2011 at 4:24 am

AS Lesly has said, driving with the windows closed and no air conditioning in South Florida could be dangerous. The heat could make me sleepy and not alert. But I do tend to follow all your other suggestions. I do not turn the car off in the middle of traffic because when it starts up, if I don't start the engine fast enough, the car in back could hit me. We have to balance eco-driving with common sense safety. Erica .-= Dr. Erica Goodstone´s last blog ..All You Need Is Love =-.
Allegra Sinclair January 19, 2011 at 2:49 am

Hi Aidan, Thanks for your post. I love how you followed up your previous post about eco-driving by letting us know how to make small changes to implement it in our lives. I really liked the tip about not hauling so much stuff around and keeping my tires inflated. Keep up the great work! Allegra .-= Allegra Sinclair´s last blog ..3 Powerful Stories of Female Millionaires =-.
Belinda Cunningham January 19, 2011 at 9:19 pm

Hi Aidan I had not ever thought of eco driving so you have given me some food for thought. Looks like I won't be lugging the golf clubs around any more. Darn now I can't say I play golf! I suppose the kayak should come off the roof as well, there goes my sports image comepletely. Belinda .-= Belinda Cunningham´s last blog ..Bach Flowers for Loneliness =-.
Debbie Lattuga January 20, 2011 at 10:32 pm

Great tips. With all the confusing information about being green, I love your simple tips. Thanks for the great info. .-= Debbie Lattuga´s last blog ..Authentic Happiness Part 1 =-.
Jorge Vazquez January 21, 2011 at 4:03 pm

Thanks for sharing this great tips Aidan. The most economical method would probably be by bus or train. :)
The GREAT Edward January 22, 2011 at 3:27 pm

Hey Aidan, Great tips. I am thankful that I have already implemented most of these. Another one I have heard is about keeping your gas tank at least 1/2 full. Make it a great day! God Bless, The GREAT Edward! .-= The GREAT Edward´s last blog ..Share Your DREAM Friday – With Special Guest Dreamer Terrific Tonya Heathco! =-.
Aidan January 25, 2011 at 2:35 am

he he he! Brilliant! Thanks for that Belinda :)
Aidan January 25, 2011 at 2:38 am

tut tut! :) have patience Cori. Thanks for all of your comments everyone! I really appreciate them!
Wendy Hewlett January 29, 2011 at 3:13 am

Great tips Aiden. I use most of these, but I am guilty of having the window down a bit. I drive a truck right now so that we can haul my son's horse, but I'm sure that a smaller vehicle or a hybrid vehicle would be much more environment friendly. Thanks for the tips, Wendy
Melissa McCloud February 3, 2011 at 10:50 pm

oh i'm totally guilty of number 5.... i shove everything in my trunk so i have more space in my pad! i do practice the 50-mph rule when my tank is dangerously low and i need to get to a gas station without running out beforehand! thanks for the great tips! :)
Emma Deborah Thomas March 9, 2011 at 1:09 pm

I love the driving tips!! I still don't have a drivers license and am not planning to! My partner has a car though and I'll pass on the tips to him! Love the green tips Aidan! Emma :-)
Aidan March 9, 2011 at 5:32 pm

Thanks Emma!
Coaching with John Komatsoulis March 23, 2011 at 8:36 pm

Great tips Aidan, and all I need now is to stop my wife from going shopping all the time :) Tip #6 stands out the most for me because I've read that having the car idle for more then 20 seconds burns more gas then turning the car off and on. Thanks for sharing !! P.S: CommentLuv says that you need to upgrade your plugin, you may want to fix that.
Aidan March 27, 2011 at 11:41 pm

Thanks John!
Steve Nicholas April 10, 2011 at 12:31 am

Great post, Aidan! I think that another key to eco-driving is to drive the most fuel efficient car class based on your needs. Really, what need do most people have for an SUV? Even "hyper-mileage" efforts with those will still mean less gas than a compact or a mid-size care that doesn't do these things.
Aidan April 10, 2011 at 8:29 pm

Very true Steve!
Donnie April 29, 2011 at 1:39 pm

Hi Aidan - My first visit to your blog - and a great first post to read . Very simple post with easy to understand tips... I'll be trying these out. Thanks for sharing! ~ Donnie Donnie´s last [type] ..How to Link Twitter to your Facebook Page Posts
Cheryl James May 9, 2011 at 10:00 pm

Great tips Aidan! Very timely with the price of fuel right now too. Although I am sure you had more of an ecological motive in mind. I am curious about tip number six. I have heard that starting a car often uses more gas than just letting it idle. Was I given bad advice? Thanks. Cheryl James´s last [type] ..Poor Economy Means More Opportunity
Aidan May 10, 2011 at 12:07 am

Depends on the vehicle and the time spent with the engine running while not moving. This is debatable. Thanks for dropping by Cheryl
Hans Schoff May 18, 2011 at 9:19 am

Aidan, I guess you're not a fan of Top Gear then... Lol. Great tips though for increasing your fuel milage. Another tip is to get a vehicle with better milage though not always feasible thought I might add it to your list. Thanks for sharing these tips! Hans Schoff´s last [type] ..Is It Too Late For YOU For Creating Wealth
Aidan May 18, 2011 at 5:04 pm

I love Top Gear! I think I have found a perfect balance. :) I have driven a supercar and my house is powered by renewable energy. That is a nice balance!
Linnea May 23, 2011 at 5:57 pm

Hi Aidan, Great tips for everyone and I love the pic. Perhaps we could add coasting when possible to the list. I have seen reports on folks who do follow these tips religiously and get great results. On the other hand I've been as frustrated as anyone when trapped behind someone going 10 miles under the speed limit. All in moderation and with balance. Linnea´s last [type] ..Facebook “Send”
Carla McNeil, Social Media Coach & Speaker September 7, 2011 at 4:37 am

I am one of the lucky people, my grandmother taught me about being green many many many years ago. This is a good list of tips Aidan. I didn't know about keeping the windows closed especially if over 50. Thanks, now my dog will just have to be content with only the front seat and not an open window too! However it's easy to make this one a habit as it rains lots here in Vancouver. :-)
Yorinda September 7, 2011 at 4:49 am

Hi Aidan, thanks for the great tips. I always liked driving in a way which doesn't use the breaks if not necessary. This probably saved having to replace the break pads. It is great to know that it also saves petrol. Love the grass car picture. Cheers, Yorinda Yorinda´s last [type] ..Time for Self Reflection
Aidan September 21, 2011 at 11:58 pm

Thanks Yorinda! Glad to hear you are already doing your bit. :)
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