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Nature Challenge Newsletter
Edition three: Drive a fuel-efficient vehicle
Dear Nature Challenge Champion,
Driving is the most polluting thing we do, but you don't have to give up your car to protect nature. By driving smarter you'll reduce pollution, slow climate change and save money.
Our leaders can also do their part to make a difference. Use the link below to send a free fax to the Natural Resources Minister asking for better fuel standards.
David Suzuki
------------------------------ TAKE ACTION! --------------------------------
THIS ACTION IS NOW CLOSED. Letters sent to date: 599
Canadians deserve options! Ask Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal to improve vehicle fuel efficiency standards and help us DRIVE SMART!
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Contents
- Why drive smart?
- How driving affects your health
- Buy green!
- Why all the fuss about SUVs?
- Tip of the month
- Celebrity of the month – Nelly Furtado
- Keep your vehicle in shape
- Drive smart!
- Hybrid and electric cars
- Online community
- Other useful resources
Driving is the most polluting thing that most of us do. Burning gasoline, or any other fossil fuel, releases pollutants that cause smog, global warming, and water pollution.
Extracting, refining and transporting fossil fuels also causes pollution, so the less gasoline we use, the better!
In total, of the average Canadian household’s environmental impact, transportation accounts for:
- almost half of toxic air pollution
- more than a third of greenhouse gas emissions
- almost 20 per cent of toxic water pollution
Driving smart can reduce this pollution - helping protect nature and our health! See the science backgrounder for more details. (PDF)
A Non-Renewable Resource
It took more than 200 million years for Earth to produce all the oil beneath its surface. But in just 200 years, we have consumed half of it!
If current rates of consumption continue, the world’s remaining conventional oil resources could be depleted within 40 years. Two-thirds of the oil we consume goes to transportation, and with half of that going to passenger cars and light trucks.
Additionally, more than a third of the oil shipped by sea is destined for North America. While big oil spills attract extensive attention, Canada experiences about 100 often-unreported "small" offshore oil spills each year.
How driving affects your health
Motor vehicles are a significant source of pollutants, including carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, ozone, volatile organic compounds and small airborne particulates. These air pollutants contribute to a wide range of health problems including impaired lung function, shortness of breath, wheezing, asthma attacks and premature death. More info on health effects.
Studies indicate:
- Each year up to 16,000 premature deaths in Canada can be attributed to air pollutants.
- As many as eight per cent of all non-accidental deaths in the country are related to air pollution.
- Tens of thousands of Canadians suffer from respiratory ailments such as asthma that are associated with and aggravated by air pollutants.
- Between 1980 and 1990, hospitalization of young children in Canada for asthma increased by 28 per cent among boys and 18 per cent among girls.
- In Ontario, the number of infants admitted to hospital for pneumonia, bronchiolitis and bronchitis in the summer months increases by 20 per cent when ozone and sulphate levels increase.
- A 1996 Ontario government report calculated that reducing key pollutants by 45 per cent would save about $1 billion annually in hospital admissions and other health costs.
If you're thinking of buying a new vehicle, look for models with the best environmental scores. Check the Auto$mart ratings.
- Buy an award winner. Check the Canadian Annual Office of Energy Efficiency EnerGuide Awards for the most fuel-efficient vehicles.
- Buy light. A typical car produces three times its weight in carbon dioxide emissions - a major greenhouse gas. Light cars produce fewer emissions and cost less. Annual fuel costs are $648 for a new Volkswagen Beetle and $2,067 for a Ford Expedition 4x4.
- Buy for your daily commutes. Most of our driving is on city streets, so buy a car based on your in-town needs.
Other things to consider:
- You might be paying extra at the gas pump for options such as air conditioning, power windows and heated seats. Many options add weight, increase aerodynamic drag, or draw extra power from the engine - which all increase fuel consumption.
- For most drivers, proper use of a manual transmission can save at least 100 litres of fuel a year - just over two visits to the gas pump.
Smart shopping doesn’t mean buying a car you don’t want - it means shopping around to find the most fuel-efficient vehicle with all the features you want. You can send a clear signal to automobile manufacturers that there's a market for efficient vehicles.
Many drivers purchase SUVs because their size provides the illusion of safety. But SUVs and pickups are far more likely to be involved in single-vehicle accidents, more likely to rollover in accidents and more difficult to control in emergency situations. SUVs are also dangerous to other drivers in smaller vehicles. More SUV info.
TAKE ACTION! Ask Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal to tighten up SUV standards and help us DRIVE SMART!
Celebrity of the month: Nelly Furtado
"I took the Nature Challenge after performing in David Suzuki’s Human Element Tour. The purpose was to raise awareness about how interconnected we are on this planet. The Challenge has taught me a lot - especially that we are unified by our use of natural resources and that we waste far too much. 
Maintain the mechanical systems: Unmaintained mechanical systems can affect fuel performance. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for engine, cooling and ignition system, brake, drivetrain and emission control system checks. For more info on driving your vehicle.
Check your tires: Operating a vehicle with just one tire under-inflated by 6 psi (40 kPa) can reduce the life of the tire by 10,000 km and increase the vehicle’s fuel consumption by three per cent. Check your tire pressure monthly, and on days when the temperature has dropped significantly. Rotating tires also helps prolong their life and improves fuel economy. For most vehicles, tires should be rotated every 10,000 km - about twice a year.
Don’t idle: Unnecessary idling wastes fuel and harms your vehicle. If you're stopping for longer than 10 seconds (except in traffic of course!), turn off the engine. More than 10 seconds of idling uses more fuel than restarting. Turning the key is all it takes to save money and prevent unnecessary greenhouse gases and other pollutants from escaping into the air. For more information check out the new Idle-Free Zone website. 
Travel light & pack smart: Avoid hauling unnecessary loads. Extra weight increases pollutants and decreases fuel economy. Placing large objects inside - instead of on the roof - maintains an aerodynamic profile which improves mileage.
Accelerate smoothly: Jack-rabbit starts consume up to 50 per cent more fuel than steady accelerations. Hard accelerations also wear out your engine and tires faster.
Minimize air conditioning: To stay cool on the highway, use your car’s flow-through ventilation. When driving in the city, open a window. If you must turn on the AC, set the controls to a comfortable level and shut it off once you’re cool enough.
Warm up your car: In winter, use a block heater to warm your engine before you start it. Cold engines burn more fuel and emit more exhaust. Block heaters can improve overall winter fuel economy by as much as 10 per cent. More tips on winter driving.
Plan ahead: Reduce your driving time by combining errands and avoiding traffic congestion. Give yourself lots of time – hurried driving causes you to brake more often and accelerate more quickly. More Auto$mart tips.
Hybrid and electric carsCheck out the latest environmentally friendly cars. George Jetson would be proud! 
- Find out the real co$t$ of car ownership in Do You Really Need a Car?
- For more info on smart cars visit FuelEconomy.gov.
- Site for Stormy Weather: 101 Solutions to Global Climate Change.
- Information on the international Car Sharing Network.
- More info on the best cars for fuel efficiency.
- Other measures to reduce transportation emissions.
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Sally Doucette of Wolfville, Nova Scotia, won our draw for an autographed copy of the Sacred Balance coffee table book. Thanks for taking the Nature Challenge, Sally!
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