As a film technician, for me the most noticeable impact of climate change in Ireland has been the increasing wind speeds – in the past 18 months I’ve been on two commercials that were closed down because it was too windy to shoot; that had never happened to me in the previous 15 years. However, there are may be some positive side effects to this new phenomena, energy independence being chief among them.  (more…)

Having recently started my own business, I knew that I would be spending a lot of time on the road, so I needed a car. One that would be powerful and comfortable enough for the hours I was going to spend sitting in it. I finally settled on a Mini One diesel – rated B – releasing only 129 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre, and potentially achieving 60 miles per gallon. Apparently diesel cars get 20% more miles than petrol cars.  Honestly, all of that meant nothing to me when I was driving it out of the garage. The first few days I burned through the tank like a Formula 1 driver. Rev the engine, brake, rev, rev, brake. As I filled the tank for the third time it occurred to me that maybe the fuel economy was less about the car and more about my driving.

Eco-Driving can save more than 30% on fuel consumption and associated emissions. And you can do it in any car. The first thing I did was read through my manual and become familiar with the on board computer and servicing requirements. Keeping the engine in tip top shape helps it run more smoothly. I discovered the range counter, which shows how many miles you have left in your tank, and fluctuates based on your driving style. You can increase the miles by driving efficiently. Watch out though, it can get a little addictive!

One thing that I’m particularly bad at is checking my tyres – for the proper inflation and for irregular wear. Stopping off at a garage, getting out of the car in the wind and rain and getting my hands dirty is something I just never seem to have time to do. But it can help your car drive more smoothly – saving you money and reducing your emissions. And when I am carrying a few extra pounds, I certainly feel more sluggish. The same goes for my car.  I cleared the shoes, gym bags and magazines out of the trunk and took the roof rack off to lighten my load and save on fuel.

However, the best thing that I can do to improve the efficiency of my driving is to take it easy. Aggressive driving wastes fuel, money, pollutes the atmosphere and increases my stress levels. By driving more smoothly I can save more than 30% of my fuel consumption. That’s an extra 30 miles for every 100 driven! This is not to mention the reduced wear and tear on the car – saving me money on servicing. Apparently travelling between 50mph and 60mph is the most efficient. Above 70mph and below 15mph uses the most fuel and wastes money. Choosing drive outside of peak hours is probably the best decision I can make. I also start to turn off my engine when stopped in traffic or at a level crossing for more than 20 seconds.

I can tell you that I’m using less fuel which costs me less money and I can feel happy that even when I am driving, I am doing my bit for the environment by reducing my emissions. Driving may not be the most green thing to do but eco driving can make it that little bit better.