Most of us are looking for ways to be more environmentally friendly. We’re changing how we shop, and how we heat our homes.
We’re finding new ways to recycle and avoid waste entirely, and we’re looking to the past to help us escape from our disposable habits.
One thing that many families are doing to reduce their carbon footprint is changing how they travel. More people are choosing to explore their home country, using public transport and driving, instead of flying.
But while taking a road trip cuts your emissions, there’s even more that you can do to take more environmentally friendly trips.
Upgrade to Electric
If you are in the market for a new car, buying electric is the best way to make sure all of your future trips are more environmentally friendly. Read this electric car guide from ElectriX to learn more about the benefits of electric cars. ElectriX has plenty of guides and tips to help you to find the right electric car for your family and the trips that you plan to take.
If you are hiring a car for your trip, try to hire an electric, or a hybrid, if possible.
Check Your Tyres and Brakes
If you are travelling in your old petrol or diesel car, there are still some things that you can do to drive more efficiently and use less.
Start by checking your tyres and brakes. Getting the tyre pressure right can help you to enjoy a smoother drive, and brakes that work well need using less, both of which can help you to save fuel. Then, drive at a steady pace, slowing down in plenty of time and speeding up gradually.
Drive at Quieter Times
Getting stuck in traffic means using more fuel and adding more pollution to the environment. So, try to avoid busy roads at busy times of the day.
One way to do this is to avoid busy tourist hotspots, and another is to leave early or travel later in the day to avoid rush hour traffic.
Open Your Windows
Most modern cars have great heating and air-con, which can be nice, but it’s using power. On hot days opening your windows can be more refreshing and help you to use less energy.
Pack Light
The lighter your car, the more efficient it becomes. If you can, avoid roof racks, boxes, or anything else that you need to strap to the outside of your vehicle. These make it less aerodynamic, which means that it doesn’t drive as smoothly, and uses more fuel to go the same distance at the same speed.
Make Eco Pit Stops
Most service stations along big roads are filled with large chain restaurants and easy conveniences. Generally, these kinds of restaurants have huge carbon footprints. They are also very busy, and often far more expensive than the same restaurants nearer to home.
If possible, try to avoid these completely, and if you do need to make a pit stop for food and drinks, look for smaller, local, and independent cafes and stores which use less packaging, support the local community, and have a lower carbon footprint.
Pack an Environmentally Friendly Picnic
Even better, try to pack your own food and drinks for the journey if you can. Use reusable bottles, icepacks, and wax wraps instead of disposable versions, and instead of buying individually wrapped treats, make your own and save any leftovers to enjoy during your break.
Do a Good Deed
If you are worried about the carbon footprint on your holiday, why not do your best to offset it with good deeds. This will help you to feel better and teach your children good habits. It can also help you to improve the environment around your favourite holiday hotspots and be a lovely way to enjoy some time as a family.
Things like spending a morning clearing the beach of plastics or cleaning up other areas can great ideas.
Fill Your Car with People
If you are going on a large holiday with friends and members of your extended family, one of the best things that you can do is fill your car with people, so that you don’t have to take as many vehicles. It can mean packing lighter, but it will save you all money in fuel and reduce your environmental impact.
Turn Everything Off at Home
You might be used to just leaving appliances on standby when you are away from home, and while these appliances won’t use much power, it all adds up and everything counts. Turn off anything that absolutely doesn’t need to be left on.
By taking a road trip, you are already limiting the carbon footprint of your journey. But even if an electric vehicle isn’t an option at the moment, by making a few small changes and making conscious decisions to be green, you can improve even more.