Fuel Saving Tips

This isn't the first time I've listed ways of saving petrol (See here), but with fuel prices continuing to rise steeply (17% in the last year) I've been on the look-out for more tips to tell you about:

• Try to plan ahead and combine journeys, saving unnecessary mileage.

• Stick to the speed limit e.g. Driving at 70 mph on the motorway instead of 80 will use about 10% less fuel.

• Reduce the load: Empty as much out of your boot as possible and try not to fill your fuel tank too much. It's all extra weight.

• Drive more smoothly: Avoid sudden braking or acceleration if possible. It's just not efficient.

• Avoid heavy traffic by leaving earlier. Stop-go driving and sitting in a queues uses a lot more petrol.

• If you are caught in a queue and it looks like you'll be sitting still for a few minutes, switch off the engine.

• Only use the air-con when necessary.

• Try Hypermiling e.g. here and here. It's a way of getting the absolute maximum out of every gallon, sometimes even exceeding official mpg figures for some models! But the more extreme techniques involved (like pulse and glide) are not for everyone.

Time To End The Prius Snobbery?

Copyright: South Park Studios

The popular image of a Toyota Prius owner (as popularised by South Park) is one of self-righteous smugness. Some even call the Prius 'the Pious'.

But is this image actually deserved these days? And aren't those who hold onto this view of Prius owners just being snobs themselves?

There's no doubt that some Prius owners, especially some of the early owners, deserved the rep, using their cars as a statement of their green credentials and looking down on anyone that doesn't drive one.

However, things have moved on since the hybrids first appeared. In my opinion, a growing proportion of current Prius owners are more interested in the car's economy and features (e.g. sat nav, automatic gearbox, cruise control, and reversing camera) than the reduced emissions. More and more the Prius is being seen by would-be buyers as just another option. Which is exactly how it should be seen when you think about it: The Prius is not going to save the world. It's not zero carbon. It's just one of a new generation of more efficient cars, not all of which are hybrids or electric cars.

So, the old stereotype of Prius owners being a bit up themselves, is looking increasing tired and inaccurate.

Yet I know that if I were to get myself a Prius, the moment I turned up to work with it, there are at least 3 car enthusiasts in my office who'd be on my case about it (The mere mention of Priuses already inspires sneering comments). I bet I'm not alone there either. So what makes such people any less self-righteous than the 'Pious' owners? Nothing.

It's time to end the war of words over the Prius. It's not the work of the Devil and it's not the Second Coming. It's just a car. Get over it.

Iceland Looking At Providing Energy To Europe

Iceland are investigating whether it would be feasible to supply Europe with electric via a proposed 1200km long cable to Scotland.

As you may know, Iceland have an abundance of renewable energy available to them from geothermal and hydro-electric sources. So much, in fact, that, if they were to exploit it all, the spare energy could supply up to 50 million homes in Europe.

Setting up the cable may cost around £1.5 billion but the Icelanders would get around £850 million a year at today's prices. So it would pay for itself within 2 years.

The results of the feasibility study should be out by the end of the year.

More here.

EU Loses It's Backbone

Last year I reported how the global recession had left the European Union (EU) in the position where it would comfortably meet it's target of cutting carbon emissions by 20%  by 2020. This gives the EU an opportunity to raise that target to 25 or even 30% for little or no extra pain compared with the original target. That would make their ultimate aim of 80% by 2050 far more achievable and cost effective.

Another bonus of getting ahead of the game like this, is that it would provide an example to the rest of the world (where Europe leads in CO2 measures, the world tends to follow), and underline their carbon cutting credentials.

By contrast, if they decided to stick with 20%, they would effectively be giving the go-ahead to the worst CO2 emitters to continue as normal (Thanks to the distorting effect the recession has had on the EU carbon trading system). In short, to stick with 20% would be weak and sends out the wrong signal to polluters.

But, guess what? The EU are planning to continue with 20%!!

Why? Apparently they've been lobbied by heavy industry.

More here.

Our Clueless Government Needs Your Help

The UK government has created a website where you can help them decide how to achieve 80% carbon emission cuts by 2050.

Give it a go, this useless bunch need all the help you can give them.

Can You Save The Planet?

A new PC game has just been released called Fate of the World. It's set in 2020 when things have got to a point where a worldwide organisation called GEO (run by you) has been set-up to finally sort out climate change.

The whole thing is based on genuine science and climate models, so it should give you a sense of what it might take to save our planet from catastrophic change.

Sceptics might see it as environmentalist propaganda, but it sounds like it's a bit more than that. I get the sense that it would clear up some misconceptions of both sceptics and environmentalists.

It seems to be getting good reviews from those who have played it so far, and at £9.99 you can't go too wrong can you? Before you buy though, check out the minimum system requirements: My netbook, which is less than a year old, is not powerful enough.

Find details about the game here.

'Greenest' UK Government Has Wielded The Axe Again

So far I've reported that the UK goverment (who claim to be the greenest yet) have cut funds aimed at supporting  the growth of renewable energy, and slashed funds to the Energy Saving Trust (set up to encourage energy efficiency for individuals, communities, and businesses).

Now I've heard they're axing the Sustainable Development Council, a body set up to advise on how to keep our economic growth from screwing up the environment.

I think this government's true colours are beginning to show, and none of them are green.

More here.

The government get's a deserved kicking about it here.