How To Be a Green-Wheeling Wonder

Think being eco-friendly and surviving high gas prices means parking the car forever and throwing away the keys? Think again!

Active transportation and public transit are great alternatives, but if you need the convenience you find behind the wheel, there are lots of ways you can drive down your gas bill, and your carbon emissions.

Take a cruise through this information:
Changing How You Drive
Changing What You Drive
Making a Change From Driving

Changing How You Drive

Something happens to many of us when we get behind the wheel. We go from being a bunch of mild-mannered, friendly folk to a mob of impatient Jacques Villeneuves going for the flag at Le Mans. But here’s some good news that should set your heart racing: just by changing our driving habits we can really put the brakes on fuel consumption.

Be Freed From the Need for Speed

Slow down and consider this fact: tests prove that driving 90 km/h instead of 120 on the highway burns 30 per cent less fuel. And while aggressive driving saves us as little as 2.5 minutes per trip, stomping on the gas to get going and slamming on the brakes to stop uses up to 37 per cent more fuel. Want to fill up on more fuel-efficient tips? Check out Conserve Nova Scotia's DrivewiseR program.

Canadian Idle Stinks

There we are: staring at the guy holding the “stop” sign at the construction zone … waiting for our kid to come out of hockey … trying to decide which CD will be the right soundtrack for this trip. And all the while the engine is running, burning fuel so we can go nowhere. How much money do you figure we could save each year if we just turned the car off when we’re not moving? Plug today’s fuel price into this equation to find out.

Pass Up Toll Lanes

Uh-oh. The guy in front of you at the tolls to the MacKay bridge in HRM was going for nothing but net, but one of his quarters took a rim shot and bounced away. Now you’re stuck watching him fumble for another coin, or open his door and hunt on the ground for the one that dropped. And his car, your car, and the car behind you are all idling away the whole time – burning more than a little small change.

With a MacPass (or a Cobequid E-Pass) you can just sail straight on through, no quarters and no idling necessary. Want to give toll lanes a pass? Click here.

Gang Up

Here’s an idea that saves gas and time: grouping errands. Next time you find yourself getting ready to run to the store to get whatever, just ask yourself: could this wait for another time? Try making a to-do list of non-urgent errands. Then, when it’s time to run them, you can do them all at once.
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Change What You Drive

Many people are discovering today that a non-fuel-efficient car is costing them nearly as much at the pump as it does for its monthly payment.

If you’re looking to trade in your gas guzzler for something that sips, click here to find out which cars are the most fuel efficient.

"But aren’t fuel-efficient cars more expensive?" The answer is yes and no. While you might pay extra up front, you’ll definitely save on gas. And some financing institutions offer preferred rate programs to customers going green. Kick the tires here to find out more.

Retire Your Ride

Retire Your Ride is a national program is designed to effectively retire 1995 and older model cars off of the roads. The vehicles that are retired will be recycled in an environmentally responsible manner, will help to improve Nova Scotia’s air quality and encourage sustainable transportation in the province. The Clean Air Foundation is the national delivery partner for this program while Clean Nova Scotia is the provincial delivery agent.

Scooternomics

Scooters rule the roads in many cities in Europe. And some cities in Canada are making their streets more scooter friendly by offering free parking anywhere for these zippy fuel-efficient two-wheelers. But before you go all Quadrophenia and ride home a vintage Vespa, keep in mind that only four-stroke scooters are environmentally friendly.
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Make a Change From Driving

Nobody is asking you to give up your vehicle. But there are other ways to get from A to B. And you might discover that they’re not only good for your budget and the planet – they could improve your own health and happiness, too!

Another One Rides the Bus

Climb aboard, smile at the driver, flash your pass or pay your fare. Look around. Every person on that bus is a car off the road. That’s a huge reduction in carbon emissions right there – not to mention congestion on our streets.

Pull out a paperback or tackle that crossword. Riding public transit is a great way to keep your mind sharp! And every time you take it, you save money. You’re not burning your own fuel budget, or tolls, or parking fees. And thanks to the federal government’s tax credit for public transit, you could be getting something back on your taxes. This stop will tell you more.

Do Buses Have Feet?

Never heard of a walking school bus before? It’s an organized, supervised group of students who walk or wheel to school together instead of being driven by their parents. Reduce your fuel consumption. Increase your kids’ physical activity. Step right here to find out more.
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