Green driving- A protection of Environment |
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In cities across the globe, the personal automobile is the single greatest polluter, as emissions from a billion vehicles on the road add up to a planet-wide problem. The negative effects of automotive emissions are maximum when you sit in traffic surrounded by cars, their engines idling. Everyone in a traffic jam is getting poisoned. Motor vehicles emit millions of tons of pollutants into the air each year. In urban areas, motor vehicles are the single largest contributor to ground-level ozone, a major component of smog. Cars also emit several pollutants classified as toxics, which cause as many as 1,500 cases of cancer in the country each year. Auto emissions also contribute to the environmental problems of acid rain and global warning. It emits nitrogen oxide (NOx) as nitrous oxide (NO) - 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. Nitrous oxide makes up about 7.2 percent of the gases cited in global warming. Two-thirds of the carbon monoxide emissions come from transportation sources, with the largest contribution coming from highway motor vehicles. In urban areas, the passenger vehicle contribution to carbon monoxide pollution can exceed 90 percent. Carbon Dioxide is a greenhouse gas" that traps the earth's heat and contributes to global warming. Evaporative Emissions Hydrocarbon pollutants also escape into the air through fuel evaporation - evaporative losses can account for a majority of the total hydrocarbon pollution from current model cars on hot days when ozone levels are highest.
The urban hierarchy of Bangladesh is strongly dominated by Metropolitan Dhaka. The population of Dhaka is about 11 million presently and is projected to be about 18.5 million by 2015, making it the seventh largest mega city in the world. Within the past 25 years, the number of vehicles plying the streets of Dhaka has seen explosive growth, with registered vehicles growing from 35,800 to 242,800. Although the total numbers of vehicles in the city of Dhaka is not large relative to the human population, but alarming news is everyday 60-65 numbers of cars introduce in roads. So car selecting and its right driving are very much important to reduce the air pollution. Lets see how can it possible…
Buying a greener car doesn't mean you have to compromise. More fuel-efficient cars use less fuel so they produce fewer emissions; reduce pollution as well as saving you money on fuel bills.
1. Different versions of the same car model or type of car can vary significantly in fuel efficiency - so buy a more fuel efficient version of the type of car or model you want.
2. The better fuel mileage a vehicle gets the less fuel it burns. Less fuel burned means fewer natural resources are used and less pollution is created from the extraction and processing of the fuel. Less fuel burned also means that less carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas is added to the atmosphere. Try not to buy a new car unless you absolutely have to. Be aware however, that newer vehicles pollute less and tend to be more environmentally efficient.
3. Buy a fuel-economic car. The fuel economy of similar sized cars using the same type of fuel can vary as much as 45%.
4. As a general rule, smaller car and cars with smaller engines are more fuel-efficient Buy as small as you can for your day to day needs. You may decide you need a big car because you have relatives that live over 400 miles away. If you only visit them twice a year however, and most of your driving is done in a 50-mile radius a big car may be inefficient. By buying a smaller car for the majority of driving and renting a bigger car for the long trips you will save money.
Not only the buying, the most important things are the way you drive your car will affect how much fuel you use and the amount of emissions your car produces. By following the steps below you can save money and reduce pollution.
1. Driving smoothly can reduce fuel consumption - check the road ahead, anticipate traffic and breaking shift to a higher gear at the right time - shift up at 2500rpm for petrol cars and 2000rpm for diesel cars. A vehicle travelling at 37mph in third gear uses 25 per cent more fuel than it would at the same speed in fifth gear get in and go - modern engines are designed to be most efficient when you just get in and go. Keeping the engine running or pumping the accelerator wastes fuel, increases engine wear and increases emissions.
2. Drive at a controlled and steady pace, changing up into the next highest gear as soon as it is possible. Sudden acceleration and braking uses more fuel, and the more fuel you use, the greater the emissions will be. Harsh acceleration and braking can use up to 30% more fuel and can cause increased wear and tear on the vehicle.
3. Control your speed as traveling at less than 15mph creates the most pollution. Keep your speed down as driving at 50-60 mph means your emissions will be lowest and your level of pollution decreases. Driving over 70mph will rapidly increase your emissions. It can cost you up to 25% more in fuel to drive at 70mph compared to 50mph and increases your level of pollution again.
4. Air conditioning and other on-board electrical devices (like mobile phone chargers) increase fuel consumption; so only use them when necessary.
5. Reduce weight, and fuel consumption, by simply removing unnecessary items from your car that do not need to be there for a particular journey.
6. Take off roof racks/boxes whenever they are not being used. They significantly reduce your vehicles fuel economy. They increase the weight and air resistance so they increase the amount of fuel you use. When in use, put smaller items at the front in order to reduce the wind resistance.
7. Use the cool air vents – air conditioning and opening windows will render your vehicle less economical by increasing fuel consumption by 8-10%! Air conditioning should be limited as it uses more fuel.
8. Be sure your tires are properly inflated. Check your tire pressure often with a gauge, especially on long trips. Measure when the tires are cold, before you drive on them. You can find the recommended inflation pressure in your owner's manual, on a label frequently found in the glove box, near the door latch on the driver's side, or other locations on your vehicle. The recommended inflation pressure is not to be confused with the maximum inflation pressure shown on the side of the tire. At the recommended inflation pressure, tires will last longer and be less likely to fail, and the car will use less fuel. Serious injury can result from tire failure because of under inflation or overloading.
9. Ensure that you have the correct tyre pressure. Every 6psi the tyre is under-inflated the fuel consumption increases by 3%.
10. Careful motorway driving will improve safety and traffic flow. Theconcertina effect caused by one motorist breaking sharply often results in traffic slowing to a near stop due to the delayed reaction of drivers behind. If we try to observe the car three or four ahead and give ourselves some distance from the car in front we can anticipate and judge the necessary speed. When you see a car break up ahead, simply remove your foot off the accelerator. By the time you get close to the car in front the chances are that they will have speeded up. You can almost make yourself responsible for stopping the concertina.
11. In traffic jams, switch off your engine. Don't sit there revving, and even idling uses fuel. Switch off the engine if you think you will stationary for more than two minutes.
12. A well-rested driver is an alert driver and has better control. Footwear that is light and less bulky ensures a sensitive control over the accelerator and reduces emissions. You may wish to consider driving without shoes or purchasing driving shoes.
13. Try not to be in a hurry. Stressed driving can be erratic and is uneconomical. Simply relax and try to enjoy the trip.
In different types of respects, the distribution of pattern choices in Dhaka is unique among cities of comparable size in the Asia region. 23% trips on motorized modes, 1.4% uses auto-rickshaw (three wheeler), 11% travel by bus, 5% by private car, and the other 6.7% by various other modes. In Bangladesh urban air pollution is worsening rapidly due to upward trends in vehicle ownership and use. In particular, SPM levels in Dhaka range from 2 to 4 times Bangladeshi standards, but up to 12 times worse than WHO guidelines in the most heavily polluted commercial locations in Dhaka. Ambient SO2 levels are nearly five times national standards in commercial area, and nearly ten times above WHO guidelines. So it's very much important to aware about the using of cars and we have habituated to choice other pattern of transportation.