Chill Out – The Key to Wellbeing & Energy Efficiency

Chilling out in the car can be good for your health and also for the environment, according to the RAC Foundation and the Energy Saving Trust.

With traffic congestion in UK towns and cities now a serious issue for a majority of people, for many motorists driving is not the pleasurable experience that it once was. The benefits of learning to leave your stress at the car door can be significant. According to research carried out by the Foundation, the results of spending 10-15 minutes a day in quiet contemplation when driving are an increase in energy levels, greater creativity and a higher sexual potency.

Traffic is also responsible for 26% of the UK's total carbon dioxide emissions (CO2), one of the green house gases attributed to climate change. According to the Energy Saving Trust, driving more carefully cuts dangerous emissions by reducing fuel consumption, which ultimately means more money in your pocket.

The Foundation and the Energy Saving Trust have therefore released a 10 step plan which helps motorists to use their cars in a more efficient way, by avoiding harsh acceleration and heavy braking, using the gearbox efficiently, and sticking to speed limits.

Richard Tarboton, Head of TransportEnergy Business Unit for the Energy Saving Trust, says, "Road transport is one of the biggest contributors to CO2 emissions in the UK and continues to grow despite increasing awareness of the damaging effects carbon dioxide has on our environment.
"By adopting the 10 simple steps we are recommending today everyone has the potential to help the environment, save money and make each journey more enjoyable."

TransportEnergy, a division of the Energy Saving Trust, works on behalf of governments to improve the quality of our environment. The Energy Saving Trust works to promote the use of sustainable and renewable energy, encourage energy efficiency in industry and highlight ways to save energy within the home. We are also committed to reducing carbon dioxide (co2) emissions, one of the key contributors to climate change.