Sign
Up Your Car to Make it 'Carbon Neutral'
Greenfleet invites
you to subscribe $30 per year (fully tax-deductible) to render
your car 'Carbon Neutral' by having 17 trees planted on your
behalf. Science shows that these 17 original mixed species
trees, over their lifetime, can absorb the carbon dioxide emitted
by your car in a year, storing the carbon in the wood and releasing
oxygen back into our atmosphere. All trees planted by Greenfleet
are in areas of environmental concern, and lands are permanently
revegetated using indigenous species.
To sign up
your car, visit www.greenfleet.com.au.
Greenfleet -
Carbon Neutral Transport
The Problem
Transport
is the fastest growing source of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Each
year the average car on Australia's roads uses 1920 litres
of fuel
and emits 4.33 tonnes of CO2 greenhouse
gas that contributes to climate change and global warming.
For every litre of petrol your car uses, it takes in 10,500
litres of fresh air, extracts the oxygen from it, and exhausts
2.25 kilos of CO2.
Technologies
are on the way that will substantially reduce fuel consumption,
but the expected rate of take-up into the transport fleet means
that it will be 10-20 years before we can expect to see any
worthwhile reduction in carbon emissions.
The Solution
- Trees and Technology
Greenfleet tackles
these problems in two ways:
- Planting
trees to lock up the emissions that we make at present, and
restoring oxygen to the atmosphere.
- Promoting
new technologies to reduce emissions from cars in the future.
Reducing
Your Fuel Usage
About
Your Vehicle
- Maintain
your car properly, and service it at the manufacturer's recommended
intervals - an out-of-tune car uses a lot more fuel.
- Keep your
tyres properly pumped - rolling resistance increases with
underinflated tyres.
- Remove
excess weight from the vehicle - up to 95% of the fuel in
your car is used in moving the mass of the vehicle, rather
than the passenger(s).
- Do not
carry things on your roof rack unnecessarily - aerodynamic
efficiency can be badly affected, and this will increase
your fuel usage.
- When buying
a new car consult the 'Fuel Efficiency Guide' available at
all car retailers, and choose a fuel-efficient one from that
class of vehicle that you require.
About
Fuels
- Be
aware that petrol, diesel, LPG and CNG (Compressed Natural
Gas)
are all fossil fuels, and when burnt emit CO2 greenhouse
gases.
- An LPG
fuelled vehicle will generally cause less air pollution than
its
petrol
equivalent, and will emit slightly less CO2 greenhouse
gases.
- Some new-generation
diesel engines are very clean and extremely fuel-efficient.
- The best
fuel from an environmental point of view is compressed natural
gas (CNG), but this is generally not available for passenger
cars and light commercial vehicles. CNG requires dedicated
engines and extremely expensive refuelling facilities, so
that it is most suited to large heavy transport fleets. CNG
provides approximately 17% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions,
and is a very clean fuel.
About
Your Driving
- Use the
car only when you have to, and plan your trips to avoid peak
hour traffic.
- Where
possible, Rideshare, use public transport or ride a bike.
- Drive
smoothly and at a reasonable speed - at 110 kph your car
will use up to 25% more fuel than at 90 kph.
- Don't
overfill your tank or spill fuel.
- If traffic
is stationary, switch off your engine.
Text taken from Greenfleet brochure, A
Motorists' Guide to the Environment.
