<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!--Generated by Squarespace Site Server v5.11.5 (http://www.squarespace.com/) on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:10:27 GMT--><feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"><title>Eco Drive</title><subtitle>Eco Drive</subtitle><id>http://www.weloveleith.com/ecodrive/</id><link rel="alternate" type="application/xhtml+xml" href="http://www.weloveleith.com/ecodrive/"/><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.weloveleith.com/ecodrive/atom.xml"/><updated>2009-06-17T14:26:17Z</updated><generator uri="http://www.squarespace.com/" version="Squarespace Site Server v5.11.5 (http://www.squarespace.com/)">Squarespace</generator><entry><title>Try Eco-Driving</title><id>http://www.weloveleith.com/ecodrive/2009/6/17/try-eco-driving.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.weloveleith.com/ecodrive/2009/6/17/try-eco-driving.html"/><author><name>Ally</name></author><published>2009-06-17T14:12:09Z</published><updated>2009-06-17T14:12:09Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p>Did you know that by changing the way you drive you could cut your fuel bills by 15 - 25%? Below, we've found a video from a US driving instuctor who describes the main 'eco-driving' techniques really well. Once you've watched it you can, see how much you remember by<a href="http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Cars-travel-and-driving/Drivers/Quizzes-and-games/Eco-driving-test" target="_blank"> taking an on-line Eco-driving Test here. </a></p>
<p><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2b7nMW-LIdI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2b7nMW-LIdI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></p>
<p><strong>Here's the top 10 Eco-Drive Tips from the <a href="http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Cars-travel-and-driving/Drivers/Smarter-driving" target="_blank">Energy Saving Trust</a>:</strong></p>
<p><strong>Behind the wheel</strong></p>
<p><strong> 1. Drive Off From Cold</strong>. Modern cars are designed to move straight away. Warming up the engine just wastes fuel - and actually causes engine wear<br /> <strong>2. Check Your Revs</strong>. Change up before 2,500rpm (petrol) or 2,000rpm (diesel)<br /> <strong>3. Drive Smoothly</strong>. Anticipate road conditions so that you drive smoothly and avoid sharp acceleration and heavy braking. This saves fuel and reduces accident rates.<br /> <strong>4. Step Off The Accelerator</strong>. When slowing down or driving downhill, remain in gear but take your foot off the accelerator early. This reduces fuel flow to the engine to virtually zero.<br /><strong>5. Slow Down</strong>. Driving within the speed limit is safer as well as being the law, and reduces fuel consumption.</p>
<p><strong>Stuck in traffic</strong></p>
<p><strong>6. Switch It Off</strong>. Modern cars use virtually no extra fuel when they are re-started without pressing the accelerator. Turn off the engine if you're going to be stationary for more than a minute or two.</p>
<p><strong>Smarter preparation</strong></p>
<p><strong>7. Plan Ahead</strong>. Plan your journeys to avoid congestion and road works, and to make sure you don't waste fuel or time getting lost!<br /> <strong>8. Keep It Long</strong>. Use other forms of transport for short journeys, if you can. A cold engine uses almost twice as much fuel and catalytic converters can take five miles to become effective.<br /> <strong>9. Reduce Drag</strong>. Accessories such as roof racks, bike carriers and roof boxes significantly affect your car's aerodynamics and reduce fuel efficiency, so remove them when not in use.<br /><strong>10. Check Tyre Pressure</strong>. Under-inflated tyres are dangerous and increase fuel consumption.</p>]]></content></entry></feed>