Sustainable Living | 16th Jun, 2016

Buy a fuel efficient car

Have you been thinking of buying a new car? Even if it’s a second hand one, it’s worth making sure it’s fuel efficient and low on emissions.

This helpful website lists the efficiency for all kinds of cars – from new ones to older models.

But remember, it can be more sustainable to keep an old car on the road than to buy a new one. This is because the environmental impact of a car comes from every stage of its production. From mining the materials to make it, to disposing of it at the end of its life.

Keeping your car well maintained, with regular check ups will also help keep it running efficiently and extend its life on the road. And you can really cut your energy use and greenhouse emissions by converting an older car to LPG. LPG is a cleaner fuel option that petrol. While there is an upfront cost, the amount of money you can save on petrol will mean you’re investment will pay itself back in no time. And your greenhouse emissions will be significantly reduced!

But the best option, by far, is to choose an electric car. Electric cars might not have the same range as petrol vehicles, but most trips in Australia are short, and you can buy a hybrid car that switches over to petrol when the electric battery runs out.

Don’t be daunted by the cost. Electric cars are a bit like solar panels – they might be more expensive upfront, but they can save you money overall. It’s worth doing the sums.

Read our tips on how to save fuel by driving smarter