Act on CO2         when travelling How can we travel in the most energy efficient way with the least amount of CO2 emitted?

Travelling is part of life - we all have to travel most days to work, school, the shops or visiting friends. Most of the journeys we take involve emitting some CO2. Therefore the question is how can we reduce the CO2 we produce on all these journeys?

Try asking these questions before you start a journey:

1) Could you walk or cycle to your destination?

Did you know:

• 1/4 of all car trips are less than 2 miles
• 75% of people live within 2 miles of a National Cycle Network
• There are over 10,000 miles of cycle safe paths and tracks in the UK

Walking and cycling is free and could be a real option for some of the short journeys you take. Imagine reducing the amount of petrol you use by a quarter! You could if you get the bike out.

Why not spend a few minutes writing down the regular tips you take, how long they are and if you could walk or cycling instead - and then give it a go. And don't forget it's good for your health and your stress levels as you don't get stuck in traffic or have to look for a parking space.

2) Could you use the train or bus?

Public transport often gets bad publicity but it can be a great way to travel. It is worth taking a look at the bus or train time table next time you are going on a journey - even if it just to the shops. There is no stress with trying to find somewhere to park and you can read while you travel or write your shopping list! And CO2 will be reduced

2 mile journey =

CAR - 0.6kg of CO2

TRAIN = 0.2kg of CO2

BUS = 0.3kg of CO2

(calculations according to Transport Direct)

3) Consider alternative fuels

Biofuels are liquid fuels which are made from a variety of sources of biomass like plant materials including vegetable oil (rapeseed, sunflower, palm, soy, sugarbeet and wheat)

Biodiesel

Did you know Europe is the largest biodiesel producer worldwide?

The oil (from waste oil, rapeseed, sunflower, palm or soy) undergoes a chemical process that makes it similar to fossil diesel. Biodiesel offers a low carbon mode of transport.

There is no need for engine modifications with a 5% blend of bio diesel with normal fossil diesel. At this stage more that 5% may invalidate the manufacturers warranty on the car.

Amazingly 100% use of biodiesel would reduce the CO2 emission of a car by 40-50% during the car's life cycle.

So if you have a diesel car consider switching to Biodiesel.

Bioethanol

Bioethanol is produced by the fermentation of sugars which come from energy crops grown specifically for energy use.  These include sugarbeet, corn, maize and wheat crops. Bioethanol is blended with petrol and the most common blend is 10% ethanol and 90% petrol (E10). Vehicle engines require no modifications to run on E10 and vehicle warranties are also unaffected.  However, to run on the higher blends which give the greatest carbon savings you will need to have your car modified as only flexible fuel vehicles can run on the 85% ethanol and 15% petrol blends (E85).  At present there are only certain parts of the UK that where there is a regular supply of E85.

If you have a petrol car consider having it modified to run on bioethanol.