How to Drive Green When you own a Large SUV

In today's world, making the environment a safe place that our children can enjoy for years to come is essential. You can help make this possible in many ways, including cutting down on your electricity costs, taking shorter showers, using recycled materials, and driving more efficient cars that expel less CO2 into the air.

But what if you own a large SUV, like a Land Rover, and you don't want to get rid of it? Maybe you like the way other drivers move out of your way when you're coming down the road or how you tower over other cars, making it easier for you to see what's going on around you. Or maybe you simply love the fact that the quality car parts beneath the bonnet keep your family safe and secure.

Here's a surprise: you don't to give up your Land Rover to drive green. You can drive green even with your large SUV.

Driving Green in Your Land Rover

Lose the Weight- No, that doesn't mean you need to go on a diet. It does, however, mean your car should go on one. When your Land Rover is filled with unnecessary items, it can effect your fuel use. It can also make your engine work that much harder. Get rid of everything that isn't necessary in your car for the best results.

Remove racks and boxes that attach to the roof as well when you don't need them. These can cause additional aerodynamic drag and can increase fuel consumption. Other culprits include:

• Sunroofs
  

• Open windows
  

• Damaged and loose external trim

Be Kind to Your Land Rover- One of the easiest ways to make sure your Land Rover drives as green as possible is to be kind to it. In other words, take care of it like you're supposed to.

• Stick to the Maintenance Schedule- Land Rover, like other car manufacturers, will provide you with a suggested maintenance schedule (often located in the vehicle manual.) Stick to it. Get the oil changed when it needs to be, replace car parts like air filters and oil filters on time, and change the windscreen wiper blades before they become so worn down they scratch your windscreen.

• Check the Tyres- Tyres should be checked every single week. Why? Under-inflated tyres can cause you to use more fuel than necessary. This not only means you won't be driving green, but it also means more money out of your pocket.

• Visit a Mechanic- Keep an eye on your normal fuel consumption. If anything seems off, don't hesitate to take the Land Rover in to be evaluated by a reputable mechanic. There may be broken or damaged Land Rover parts that have to be replaced or repaired. They could be causing your increase in fuel consumption and emissions. Replace or repair these car parts as quickly as possible.

Turn it Off- Ten or twenty years ago, every driver had a certain routine when they got up for work in the morning during the winter. They'd get up, start the tea kettle, slip on their winter boots and coat, and go out and start the car. Then, while the car was warming up, they'd come inside, get dressed, drink their tea, and get ready for work.

Sound familiar?

While this routine was necessary way back when, (unless you wanted your car to die before you even pulled away from the house,) it isn't needed today. Modern Land Rover engines don't need to warm up before you begin driving them. This means that letting them warm up for half an hour is not only wasteful, but uses unnecessary fuel. When you're getting ready in the morning during winter, you don't have to worry about starting your Land Rover prior to when you leave.

There are other times when your Land Rover would be better off with the ignition turned off. For instance, when you're stuck in traffic. If traffic is congested, and it doesn't look like you will be moving anywhere anytime soon, put the car in park and turn it off. It only takes a few seconds to turn it back on when things do start moving again.

What else should you turn off? Electrical components, like heated seats and air conditioning, use energy that you don't always need. Go green and switch them off when you can.

Reduce Your Speed- It used to surprise me growing up when my mum would comment that she was almost out of petrol and then drive slowly to the service station. In my mind, hitting the accelerator and getting there as fast as possible was the smart way to avoid ending up on the side of the road out of fuel. But, that isn't the case. By reducing your speed and keeping it at a steady pace, you can actually save fuel. Take advantage of the technological devices in your Land Rover to do this. Cruise control and speed limit systems can help you maintain a steady speed and help you avoid going too fast.

Maintaining a slower and steadier speed also helps when it comes to braking. When your car is going at a certain speed and has to slow down, it's actually more environmentally efficient if the Land Rover's engine can slow down on its own, rather than with the help of you slamming on the brakes. By travelling at a appropriate speeds, you'll have an easier time avoiding the brakes.

Watch Your Driving Style- Lastly, pay attention to your driving style when you're behind the wheel of your Land Rover. If you stomp on the accelerator constantly or find yourself over-revving the engine, you're going to use more fuel and energy.

When it comes to staying green, you don't have to have an electric car or a small little hatchback. You can still drive your Land Rover, as long as you take care of its car parts, watch your driving style, lose the excess weight you're carrying, and pay attention to your speed.