How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint While Relocating
Posted on June 14th, 2010 by Paulina Aguilera
Did you know that the average American’s carbon impact is 20 tons of carbon dioxide a year? Liquid fossil fuels alone account for 36% of the world’s CO2 emissions. That’s more than a third coming from our transportation!
Reducing your carbon footprint on your move is easier than you think. By taking these simple steps, you’ll not only reduce the amount of harmful gas entering our atmosphere, you’ll feel better knowing that you did.
Before even hitting the road, check your tire pressure. Vehicles running on underinflated tires waste more energy and can contribute up to 1.5 tons more carbon dioxide emissions than properly inflated tires. You’ll get the most out of your mileage, over a 3% boost, and in turn save yourself up to $500 a year with regular tire pressure check-ups.
Avoid the lead foot. If you have the propensity to be an aggressive driver, stop yourself. Improve your mileage on your move by about 33% just by being a passive driver. Take it easy on the accelerator by using the cruise control function of your car, if you have one.
Lower the windows. A study done by the Society of Automotive Engineers found that car windows that were lowered at speeds of up to 65mph maximized fuel efficiency. Anything higher increased drag and lowered fuel efficiency on a vehicle. A good rule of thumb is if you’re 45mph or under, lower your windows.
Tell your movers not to use a shuttle. If you’re hauling over to your new home with professional movers that have shuttle services, tell them you prefer to have the moving truck come to your home instead of shuttling your stuff back and forth.
Ask your moving company what they do for greener relocation. Although biodiesel movers are in their infancy, there are current movers that employ green moving tactics, such as the ones listed above, that cut down their CO2 emissions. It’s a smart move for movers because it also saves their company money on fuel costs. If the moving company you choose doesn’t have a green plan, merely suggesting it will propel their attention to the burgeoning demand for greener relocation services.
Use these tips on your next move for a less pollution-inducing relocation. If you’re interested in knowing what your annual CO2 contribution is, check out the EPA’s Household Emissions Calculator.
Related Articles:
- 5 Simple Things You Can Do to Save Gas in Sacramento, California
- Top 10 Easy to Follow Tips that will Save You Gas and Money While on the Road
- Offset Your CO2 Emissions on Your Move
Tags: carbon dioxide, reduce, relocation
This entry was posted on Monday, June 14th, 2010 at 9:34 am and is filed under Moving Experts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
One Response to “How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint While Relocating”
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I think the best chance of making the UK a low-carbon economy comes through community-owned green energy projects. According to a collection of civil groups that represent 12 million people, government support to create a low carbon economy should be greater. Local people need a stake in energy generation and to be given the chance to produce low-carbon, low-cost energy.