In Your Car

In Manitoba, the transportation sector is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Fossil-fuel-burning vehicles generate over one-third of the province's climate-changing pollutants. For every litre of gas used, 2.3 kilograms of carbon dioxide is released from the exhaust. If you drive 25 kilometers a day, your car will produce up to 3.8 tonnes of greenhouse gas annually.

The use of single passenger vehicles is one of the most influential ways Manitobans contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions. Fortunately, it's easy to get started on the road to more sustainable transportation choices.

Leave the car at home whenever you can

• Walking, cycling, running or in-line skating not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions, but also results in a variety of health benefits.
• One busload of passengers takes 40 cars off the road, saves 70,000 litres of fuel and avoids over 175 tonnes of emissions a year.

We know that for many people parking the car permanently is not an option. Here are a few driving and maintenance tips to consider.

• Check your tire pressure twice a month, especially in changing weather. Under-inflated tires cause greater drag, reducing fuel efficiency by up to 5 per cent. Be especially vigilant during cold weather, when air volume is reduced due to low temperatures.
• Balance your tires for even weight distribution. A vehicle with poorly balanced tires will vibrate, reducing fuel efficiency.
• Check your wheel alignment. A misalignment of just half a degree is equivalent to dragging a tire sideways for 14 km (8.7 miles) every 1,500 km you drive. Besides guzzling gas, poor alignment will decrease the life of your tires and your vehicle.
• Use radial tires. Radial tires can improve fuel economy by 5 per cent when compared with bias-ply tires. Also, remove snow and mud tires when they are no longer needed.

Consider your driving habits

• Avoid idling. Just ten seconds of idling burns more fuel than restarting your engine. If you aren't going anywhere, shut your engine OFF.
• Travel at moderate, steady speeds. Posted speed limits are not just for safety. They also represent optimal rates of travel that maximize vehicle fuel efficiency. Reducing highway speed to 80 kilometers per hour from 100 reduces fuel consumption by as much as 20%.
• Lessen your impact by purchasing a more efficient vehicle or using an ethanol-blended fuel or biodiesel.
• Plan ahead. Listen for traffic reports and avoid congested routes. Frequent stops and starts use more energy than steady driving. If you have more than one vehicle, use the more fuel efficient one whenever possible.
• Consolidate your trips. Short trips can increase fuel consumption by as much as 50 per cent in winter and 20 per cent in summer.
• Shift progressively. Decrease the amount of driving time in the lower, less fuel efficient gears. Accelerate smoothly into the more fuel efficient higher gears as soon as possible. Automatic transmissions shift more quickly if you ease up slightly on the accelerator as you gain speed.
• Don’t accelerate uphill – accelerate before hitting the slope. Don’t floor the accelerator to maintain your speed. Allow the vehicle to slow down and downshift accordingly. Ease up on the accelerator on the downhill side.
• Avoid fuel spillage from topping up or overfilling your tank at the pump.
• Remove roof rack if not needed. The drag caused by a roof rack can increase fuel consumption by as much as 5 per cent.
• Keep trunk weight to a minimum. Remove heavy items like out of season tires and golf clubs. Increased weight results in increased fuel consumption.

Be kind to your car

• Use the correct grade of oil. Lower viscosity multigrade oil can make your engine more fuel efficient. Premium multigrade or synthetic oil, used to reduce engine friction, can result in a 3 per cent fuel saving.
• Keep the engine tuned. Fuel is wasted by such maintenance factors as poor spark plug condition, worn points or other ignition components, sticking valves, clogged fuel and air filters, and inadequate lubrication.
• Protect the engine from extreme cold. An engine is more fuel efficient at its normal operating temperature. A radiator cover can help in very cold weather by keeping the engine warmer.
• Maintain records. This will allow you to see how fuel efficient you are. A sudden drop in fuel efficiency can be checked quickly and easily.

Keep your cool

• Reduce the use of air conditioning as it uses a lot of extra fuel. Try shutting it off when you are comfortable, don't wait for the big chill. Turn it on again when you really feel the heat.
• Have the air conditioner checked for leaks by a qualified mechanic as part of your regular maintenance schedule.
• Open windows create air turbulence and can increase fuel consumption by 2 per cent. Use flow-through ventilation.

When buying a new vehicle, ask yourself these three questions

You can lessen your impact by purchasing a more efficient vehicle. When you’re shopping, consider these questions:

• How is the fuel economy? The amount of CO₂ emitted by a vehicle is proportional to the amount of energy it uses. The better the fuel economy, the fewer the greenhouse gas emissions. Bigger savings at the pump, too.
• Does it have to be this big? Evaluate your needs carefully. Larger, heavier vehicles use more materials and require more power to drive. As a result, most have larger engines with poor fuel economies.
• What is the emission rating? Look for the Vehicle Emission Control Information sticker under the hood. It will tell you if the engine meets national low-emission standards (NLEV). Some dealerships remove these stickers. If so, ask a salesperson for vehicle emission information.

6 reasons to join a carpool

1.   Save Money: People who live and/or work near each other, can save money as well as wear and tear on vehicles by pooling their resources and traveling together.
2.   Save Energy: Nearly one-third of the gasoline used is by people driving to and from work. Many of those people are traveling alone. If the same number of people used fewer vehicles, fuel consumption would be reduced.
3.   Reduce Air and Noise Pollution: Carpools reduce the number of vehicles on the road which means less noise and a reduction in air pollution.
4.   Increase the Life Expectancy of Your Vehicle: The more you drive, the more rapidly parts begin to fail. Operating costs are directly related to the distance you travel.
5.   Improve the Traffic Flow: By reducing the number of vehicles on the road, traffic flows will improve and you will get to and from work faster.
6.   Be energy smart! Talk to your friends and neighbours about pooling your resources and driving to and from work together.

Predictions and analysis on this page were excerpted from:

Climate Change Connection Manitoba

Additional Resources

Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation
Natural Resources Canada – Personal Vehicles Program
Transportation and Government Services – Transportation Systems and Planning Development (Vision Transport 2020)
Manitoba Student Transportation Network (MSTN)
University of Winnipeg-Institute of Urban Studies
Centre for Sustainable Transportation
University of Manitoba Transport Institute
Resource Conservation Manitoba
The Lung Association Manitoba ‘Bye Bye Beaters’ Program
The Kidney Foundation of Canada – Kidney Car Program
Tire Stewardship Manitoba
Manitoba Tire Stewardship Board

Get on board the Commuter Challenge – a program designed to encourage organizations of all types and sizes to adapt more climate-friendly commuting practices, such as carpooling, increased transit use and active transport. For more information, contact Resource Conservation Manitoba at (204) 925-3773 or online at: www.resourceconservation.mb.ca/gci/gci.html

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