Best Eco-Friendly Cars & Other Ways To Go Green

Best Eco-Friendly Cars & Other Ways To Go Green

For many of us, the environment is an increasingly important issue. We all share the same planet, and with the effects of climate change only growing clearer, it's only natural to each want to do our part.

Fortunately, choosing to go green is a decision we can all make in numerous aspects of our lives – from our fashion choices to the groceries we buy and the type of car we drive. And today’s technology makes living an eco-friendly lifestyle easier than ever.

So while changing a little about our own lives might make a small difference, every individual action plays a really important role in keeping our planet clean and safe. To help you think about the bigger picture, here’s some examples of lifestyle changes you can make to help reduce your carbon footprint.

Small Changes

Going green doesn’t have to mean altering your lifestyle completely. Making smarter little choices every day can be a step in the right direction. We’ve put together some simple changes to get your family started.

Ditch plastic and paper waste where possible

One of the easiest and most effective ways to help the environment is to reduce reliance on single-use plastic. Unnecessary plastic waste has damaging effects on the environment – from pollution to harming wildlife.

To combat this, start using a reusable coffee cup, or buying package-free shampoos and laundry detergents. Even just remembering to stop your junk mail can help cut the 17 billion tonnes of unnecessary paper waste produced each year too.

Eat local food where possible

As a general rule, the shorter journey food takes to get to your table, the less waste generated. Eating local, organic food rather than buying imported foods will help reduce air miles and CO2 emissions.

Similarly, shopping little and often instead of bulk buying vegetables and other perishable goods can help cut down food waste.

Use less water

Cutting down on your water use is an easy step to helping the environment. Whether it’s spending less time in the shower, or not leaving the tap running whilst brushing your teeth, there are lots of ways to reduce water waste in your home.

Big Changes

If you can make significant changes to your lifestyle, you’ll make a great difference to the environment – as well as provide inspiration for others to follow. If you’re ready to take a big step, here are some ways you can go greener at home.

Forgot fast fashion

Since clothing production requires a considerable amount of energy and resources, fast fashion results in needless CO2 emissions. So instead of throwing away your old garments, donate or swap clothes at charity shops or swap events taking place across the UK. Buying clothes from sustainable cotton sources can also make a big difference towards changing the global fast fashion problem.

Switch to renewable energy

More and more households are choosing to switch electricity providers for cleaner, renewable energy. 2019 saw Britain generate more power from renewable energy than fossil fuels for the first time since the industrial revolution.

If you want to be a part of this progress, check with your energy provider if renewable power is supported in your home.

Switch to an electric vehicle

For many of us, a car is an essential part of our daily lives. But the environmental impact of petrol and diesel models is something we’re becoming increasingly conscious of. With little to no CO2 emissions, electric cars are far better for the environment than petrol models – and often reap bigger financial benefits too.

There are two types of electric cars to choose from: hybrid vehicles and all-electrics.

Hybrids function by having a combustion engine for long distances and an electric battery for shorter ones of up to 35 miles like the All-New Ford Kuga. What’s more, they can charge their electric batteries on the go with regenerative braking. And by switching to its battery when waiting at traffic lights, for example, hybrids like the Kuga and the Ford Mondeo can prevent harmful Co2 emissions in areas of heavy traffic.

All-electric cars like the Ford Mustang Mach-E release zero emissions and drive longer distances on their battery than hybrid models. Electric cars are plugged into an external source for charging – anywhere with mains electricity is possible, but a Wallbox installed at your home works best. Offering high performance, the powerful all-electric Mustang Mach-E can travel up to 370 miles on a full battery and is one of the best eco-friendly cars on the market.

Discover the TrustFord range of new hybrid and electric models, or search for a nearby used car.