Smarter car use to cut energy bills

Mar 23 2010 by Sarah Green, The Journal

EVERYONE in the North East should be celebrating last week’s announcement that the Leaf, Nissan’s new model aimed at the consumer electric vehicle market, will be built at its hugely successful Washington factory, bringing more than £420m investment in the Sunderland plant.

This is a critical step in the development of the UK’s ultra-low- carbon vehicle industry.

However, for those who are wedded to their car but still want to take immediate action to reduce their carbon emissions from driving, the latest research from CBI has calculated that simply better driving could save you £250 per year and reduce emissions by 5-10%. It also suggests all learners should demonstrate that they can drive smoothly and adopt more energy- efficient motoring techniques as a mandatory part of the driving test.

More than a quarter of the UK’s greenhouse gases come from personal transport, half of which are from cars.

Simply changing gears more smoothly to avoid sharp breaking and acceleration can reduce fuel consumption by a third. Learner drivers already have to demonstrate they can drive in a fuel-efficient way during the course of their driving test, but this is not a pass or fail element.

Making energy-efficient driving techniques a mandatory part of the test will make a significant contribution to changing the next generation of motorists’ behaviour, and to cutting transport emissions.

Among the CBI’s recommendations for the Government to ensure it is on track to deliver low-carbon cars and homes are:

Agreeing long-term limits for reducing passenger car emissions.

Using the revenue raised from the purchase of carbon-intensive cars to incentivise consumers wishing to buy low-carbon vehicles.

Speeding up plans for the roll-out of smart meters to allow consumers to monitor and manage energy use.

Introducing council tax rebates for householders who improve their energy efficiency.

Encouraging firms to support staff to insulate their homes by making changes to the current tax regime.

Extending the boiler scrappage scheme to domestic white goods.

The CBI’s new interactive website for consumers can be found at www.mycarbonsavings.org.uk. As well as showcasing the low-carbon cars and homes of the future including the Nissan Leaf, it provides information about the range of energy-efficient goods and services available.

Sarah Green is regional director of CBI North East