Adjusting your driving style can go a long way to assisting the environmental cause – but now city employees in one US city have no choice in the matter.

Carmel Indiana mayor Jim Brainard is prohibiting city employees from leaving their cars idling when unnecessary. He signed an executive order this week that asks employees to turn off their cars when not in use rather than leaving heating or air conditioning units running.

There will be understandable exceptions to the rule – such as fire trucks that are pumping or police cars carrying dogs or prisoners.

According to research, drivers could save around $1 a day if they reduced their idling times by just 10 minutes. Brainard estimates that the city could save around $100,000 each year if all of the cars reduced their idling times by 10 minutes a day. Currently the city has around 400 cars – although around 100 of these are hybrids or use flex-fuel.

To help enforce the policy, employees have been issued with yellow key chains that say ‘no idling’ and have been made from 100 per cent US corn plastic. There has also been a telephone number introduced if residents are concerned with a city vehicle idling.

What do you think of this policy? Can it work or is it just a gimmick? And would you like to see a similar scheme adopted in your town? Let us know your thoughts.

 The international popularity of green cars has been reaffirmed in Australia, where demand for hybrid cars is surpassing supply.

Around 3,000 petrol/electric cars and SUVs have been sold in the country so far this year, with the Honda Civic emerging as a legitimate challenger to the Toyota Prius’s green throne.

The vehicle is priced at just $32,990 – which is around $5,000 less than the cheapest Prius model. Around 603 Civics have been sold in Australia so far this year – which is an increase from 501 in the same period in 2007. In June, the Civic actually out-sold the Prius for the first time in the private sector.

Much of the Civic’s success is attributed to the fact that it looks like a traditional petrol saloon car. However, with increased demand in America most of the production has been taken to US soil.

Unfortunately for Australian green car enthusiasts, the Honda natural-gas powered Civic, dubbed the world’s cleanest combustion engine, is unlikely to make it to the country due to the lack of refuelling infrastructure. By contrast, in the US it sells with a home refuelling station plumbed into homes.

 Anticipation is building for the Paris Motor Show, the world’s oldest and arguably most prestigious automobile showcase. Every two years, the French capital plays host to some of the hottest new vehicles and this year’s event will be no exception with Toyota preparing to showcase three new models.

The Toyota Avensis is a third generation model built at the Burnaston plant in Derbyshire. The new model, which is due to go on sale in January 2009, will be more powerful and yet will emit less carbon dioxide (CO2) than its predecessor. Full details and pricing are due to be released later this year, but Toyota is keen to point out that the vehicle will retain the high quality, refinement and equipment levels that have become hallmarks of the Avensis.
Also scheduled to be unveiled at the Paris event is the Urban Cruiser – a rugged vehicle with a 1.4-litre D-4D diesel All Wheel Drive (AWD). You might not expect to find the Urban Cruiser mentioned here at thegreencarwebsite.co.uk, however, this urban all-roader does boast some impressive environmental credentials with CO2 emissions at just 133g/km.

The pick of the bunch from an environmental perspective however, has to be the new Toyota iQ. Deemed the world’s smallest premium four-seater it will offer 360° protection to all occupants with high levels of active and passive safety and will include the world’s first curtain shield airbags to be installed behind the rear seats.

However, what is small about the iQ are its CO2 emission levels – a meagre 99g/km.

Stay tuned to thegreencarwebsite.co.uk next week, when we’ll publish our own guide to the Paris Motor Show 2008.

 Gas and electricity customers in the UK haven’t had much to celebrate recently with a series of price hikes from the leading energy suppliers including Eon increasing its gas prices by 26 per cent and its electricity prices by 16 per cent. It’s probably scant consolation therefore to realise that the energy provider is at least making some efforts to reduce its own output and emission levels.

Eon has formed a partnership with Europcar, the vehicle rental provider, in an effort to meet the far-reaching environmental demands of the business. Europcar has been selected as the company’s sole vehicle rental supplier, helping the energy company reach its corporate and social responsibilities.

Speaking after the announcement of the pan-European contract, David Graham, fleet manager for Eon UK, said: “We needed a pan-European daily rental supplier who would work with us on our carbon agenda, to ensure we were meeting our company’s criteria on cutting carbon emissions.

“In response to our requirements, Europcar has responded excellently to our new policy of only using vehicles that have 120g/km or 140g/km carbon emission. This has also enabled us to meet our environmental targets by ensuring the range of vehicles being used by staff, are restricted to those within the small and medium groups.”

Europcar too indicated that meeting the company’s environmental goals was a key criterion in its strategy.

New research from prominent campaign group, the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) has revealed that green taxes are far higher than is necessary to offset the cost of UK carbon emissions. UN IPCC figures on the UK’s carbon footprint indicate British taxpayers pay £19.6 billion a year more than is necessary, whilst even the British Government’s own estimates indicate that we are paying £7.9 billion too much – money that taxpayers feeling the pinch of the credit crunch can ill afford claims TPA.

Detailed local analysis of the green taxes and carbon emissions of the population of each local council area across the country reveals that there is a wide variation between different areas, particularly between urban and rural areas. A full list detailing the amount of excess green taxes paid per person for people in each local authority area in the UK is included in the report.

In 2007, the TPA’s groundbreaking report, “The Case Against Further Green Taxes” marked the start of the tide turning against green taxation, and was widely credited with preventing the Conservative Party adopting Zac Goldsmith’s controversial green tax policy proposals. In the aftermath of the 2008 Budget, the TPA was the first organisation to flag up the proposed increase in vehicle excise duty as a costly threat. Now, the TPA’s latest report demonstrates just how much people are suffering under the green tax burden and shows that even the Government’s own figures show they are exploiting green taxes to raise massive amounts of revenue.

Key Findings
• In 2007-08, the total burden of green taxes and charges, after deducting road spending, was £24.2 billion, up from £22.7 billion in 2006-07.
• Taking the IPCC’s estimates of the costs of greenhouse gas emissions, the social cost of Britain’s entire output of greenhouse gases was £4.6 billion in 2007, meaning Britain pays £19.6 billion too much in green taxes, or £783.34 too much per household. Even the Government’s own estimates of the cost of greenhouse gas emissions as being £16.3 billion reveal we are being overtaxed by £7.9 billion – equal to £315.81 per household.
• Therefore, even on the Government’s own estimate of the cost of carbon emissions, green taxes are too high.
• The burden varies significantly between suburban/rural areas and urban districts. For examle, residents of Maldon pay £607 per person in excess green taxes compared to residents of Camden who pay £62 each in excess green taxes (using the IPCC estimate). Out of 434 local authority areas, only five avoid excess green taxes under the IPCC estimate of the social cost of carbon emissions, and only 12 under the Government’s estimate. There is a full local breakdown, area by area, of the UK included in the report.
• Excessive green taxes hit poorer people hardest, hurt the competitiveness of British firms, cause Britain to export emissions and fall disproportionately on residents of rural and suburban areas.

Matthew Sinclair, a Policy Analyst at the TaxPayers’ Alliance and expert in green taxation, said:

“Green taxes are set far higher than is necessary to pay for our carbon footprint, which loads an unfair burden onto hard pressed British families and businesses. With the credit crunch squeezing household budgets, people can ill afford this extra tax grab. It’s dishonest and unjust for politicians to wrap revenue raising tax hikes in a green banner. The Government are talking about raising taxes even further, but our conclusions show that green taxes should be kept as they are or cut.”

For information visit:
http://www.taxpayersalliance.com/

The results of an opinion poll released yesterday, show an overwhelming 87 per cent of people in the UK think measures to force car manufacturers to make smarter cars that use 25 per cent less fuel should be introduced urgently.

Two-thirds of respondents thought that requiring car manufacturers to reduce the fuel consumption of their vehicles by a quarter would boost the UK economy – because people would spend less money on fuel and so have more to spend on other things.

And the poll shows there is a clear public appetite for green motoring – over half of those questioned saying that apart from cost, fuel consumption was the most important factor in choosing a new or second hand car – ahead of safety and comfort.

The UK findings are mirrored in four other countries where polling was carried out. The results come days before key MEP votes in the European Parliament which will be critical in determining future emissions standards for new cars.

Friends of the Earth is calling on MEPs to vote for tough emissions standards for new cars in order to cut fuel consumption and tackle climate change. Reducing the fuel consumption of cars sold in the EU by 25 per cent would cut average carbon dioxide emissions from new cars to approximately 120 grammes per kilometre, the 2012 target being demanded by green groups. Friends of the Earth also wants MEPs to go even further by committing to a longer term target of 80g/km by 2020.

Friends of the Earth’s Senior Transport Campaigner Tony Bosworth said:

“The message has come across loud and clear: people want car makers to produce cleaner, smarter cars that use less fuel, reduce climate change emissions and slash fuel bills.

“Politicians must act on public demand by standing up to the self-interested lobbying of the car industry and delivering the tough standards that people clearly want”.

Alliance Against Urban 4×4s Managing Director Blake Ludwig added:

“These survey results mirror what people have told us on the streets: they are horrified by how much they have to spend on petrol and agree that they would be willing to pay more for a more fuel efficient car.

“Consumers urgently need our MEPs and UK ministers to have some guts and push for stringent carbon dioxide targets.”

A doctors surgery in central London are using a pay-as-you-go car club instead of their private cars in order to significantly reduce their carbon footprint.

Doctors at the James Wigg Practice in Camden Town, no longer use their private cars for home visits and have done a deal with leading UK car club, City Car Club.

All 15 doctors at the practice have signed up as members, and now commute to work on public transport, and instead use a City Car parked in their surgery car park which can be booked by the hour for less than £5. This has reduced their joint carbon emissions by 133 Tonnes of CO2 a year, the equivalent of 34 flights to Australia.

Practice Manager Tracey Chapman said: “We contacted City Car Club two years ago and have been using the service ever since and it’s perfect for a small medical practice.

“It is important to me that our practise operates in the greenest way possible.

“But also it’s practical, and our doctors can do their house visits and other staff can do essential errands with the cars.”
And she added: “It could not be simpler, I can usually book the car literally as I need to leave the office, taking no more than a minute to go online and sort out the booking.

And on return, we don’t have to worry about parking spaces as there is always a bay in which to park the car. We used to waste hours every week just looking for a parking space.”

“Also at the weekends the local community has access to the car so it’s useful to our neighbours as well.”

Practice staff were given a special deal on membership fees because they are a multiple business user with more than five people who joined. As a result membership was reduced from £75 to £25-a-year person. After that the club takes care of all the maintenance, insurance, cleaning, depreciation, and parking permits. They also pay for the first 50 miles fuel every day.

Doctors at the James Wigg practice have chosen to block book the car for the working week because they need to know it is always available. But most businesses have regular bookings in advance or book on spec on the internet at www.citycarclub.co.uk by phone on 0845 330 1234 or directly from the cars. In all cases, members gain access with their smart enabled, personal membership card (totally keyless access). Their PIN is entered onto the onboard computer and then just drive away. Journeys made are itemised on a monthly statement.

City Car Club is already well established in the UK with over 300 cars and 6,000 members in London, Brighton, Bristol, Bath, Norwich, Edinburgh and Birmingham.

And as well as being green, being a car club member is considerably cheaper than running a fleet car because City Car Club pay all the insurance, maintenance, parking and cleaning costs, and they also pay for 50 miles worth of fuel per day.
According to RAC figures a motorist driving 4,000 miles a year in a Ford Mondeo would pay around £2,400 in insurance, petrol, maintenance, depreciation, road tax and parking. A City Car doing the same mileage will cost just £1,200.
So it saves the planet, and saves you a packet.

With families across the UK feeling the financial squeeze in almost all areas of their daily life, a new car has just been launched which will save its owner £500 per year – or the equivalent of almost three months food shopping .

In addition to the annual savings, the Proton GEN-2 ecoLogic instantly saves drivers money as it is already fitted with an LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) conversion, which currently costs approximately £2,000 for other cars. The new dual fuel vehicle will enable drivers to fill up at a fraction of the cost of either petrol or diesel, thanks to LPG costing on average only 58.6p a litre . What’s more, neither car will cost any more to buy than their standard specification, unconverted counterparts.

Simon Park from Proton Cars UK commented: “Soaring food and utility bills are crippling many families and our dual fuel car provides a genuine solution for long-term savings at the pump.

“Although there are more than 1,400 LPG filling stations in the UK, drivers can opt to fill up with unleaded and switch at any point in their journey thanks to the car’s dual-fuel system.”

In 2000 Autogas Limited, a joint venture between Calor (for more on Calor LPG please visit www.calor.co.uk) and Shell, was set up with the sole aim of making automotive LPG more readily available. Chris Taylor from Autogas said: “In the UK, LPG costs around half the price of petrol and diesel, usually resulting in annual savings of around 40 per cent in fuel costs. Recent independent tests have also shown that out of the three fuels, LPG has the best environmental record.”

Converted and fully warranted by Proton Cars the GEN-2 ecoLogic has a 1.6 litre engine, Lotus design ride and handling and is available in a 5-door hatchback or 4-door saloon – costing £10,995 and £10,795 respectively

For more information visit www.protonecologic.co.uk.

Fiat’s 500 supermini is playing a major part in the launch of London’s first “eco estate agent”.

London Residential, which opened its new Parkway, Camden office earlier this month (August) has bought five Fiat 500 1.2 Lounge cars, to use alongside four electric scooters as transport for its sales negotiators.

The 500’s low emissions, excellent fuel economy and compact size fits in perfectly with London Residential’s environmental stance. This includes using a green electricity supplier for its offices and managed properties, offering a unique green advisory service to landlords and tenants, and giving home buyers useful carbon reduction advice.

The Fiat 500s should make a big impact on the streets of Camden as they have been finished in high impact Bossa Nova white with orange and black London Residential graphics.

The cars are being supplied by Fiat’s central London-based flagship store, Fiat Marylebone. “We are pleased to be supporting this new venture,” says managing director Tony Dittli.

“The 500 fits in very well with the company’s environmental ethos as its CO₂ emissions are just 119g/km and it returns an extra-urban fuel consumption figure of more than 65mpg. And it will be perfect as most of the estate agents’ journeys are low mileage and will probably involve parking in very tight spaces.”

“We haven’t just got a green internal ethos – we practice it externally as well,” says London Residential’s operations director Gaby Noble. “By using the Fiat 500s  and the electric scooters we will minimise our transport emissions as part of the overall aim to reduce our environmental impact.”

 Drive less, save money and save the environment – it’s the theory that helps motorists to think green but for many, the ‘drive less’ motto is simply not viable. However, perhaps some further financial incentives could alter that perspective.

The California Department for Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner is planning to introduce a new green car insurance option, known as ‘pay as you go’.

The idea is to link car insurance premiums more accurately to the amount of miles customers actually drive. With encouragement for drivers to travel fewer miles, Poizner believes the new insurance option could help to drive down vehicle emissions and also reduce the number of accidents on the roads.

According to the Environmental Defence Fund, if 30 per cent of Golden state drivers were to participate in this new form of voluntary coverage then the state could avoid 55 million tons of carbon dioxide between 2009 and 2020. It is estimated that this would save 5.5billion gallons of petrol, $40 million in car-related expenses and would be the equivalent of taking 10million cars off the road.

Of course the idea of insurance premiums based around mileage is nothing new – in the UK many car insurance providers offer similar schemes, with mileage limits equating to discounts on premiums, particularly for classic car drivers who use their vehicles infrequently.

However, the new regulations in California would allow consumers to verify their mileage by odometer readings or a technological device used to collect mileage data.