FASSET has played host to a government-led initiative that could see motorists shave pounds off their fuel bills, as well as reducing global-warming emissions.
ACT ON CO2 used Langstone Technology Park, the thriving business park which Fasset operates for 18 companies employing 3,700 between them, as a base to drive home useful tips.
Meridian News, the BBC, independent radio stations and the regional press were out in force to find out about ‘smarter driving’ lessons from ACT ON CO2.
Participants were taught smarter driving techniques, such as using fewer revs and keeping tyres pumped up.
ACT ON CO2 estimates that if all drivers in the South East committed to driving smarter, collectively they could save 850,000 tonnes of CO2, which would shave £325m off the region’s car-fuel bills**.
The participants took part in People Power, an energy-saving challenge running in the city as part of the government's ACT ON CO2 campaign.
The challenge follows ten ordinary citizens in Portsmouth as they try to reduce the energy they use in all aspects of their daily lives.
Portsmouth is one of three cities to take part, alongside Birmingham and Newcastle.
Richard Hurford, ACT ON CO2 spokesperson and Regional Manager for the Energy Saving Trust, South East, said: “Smarter driving gives the average car driver the opportunity to save up to one month’s worth of fuel a year; it's an easy way to save money whilst reducing your impact on the climate at the same time.
“I'm looking forward to seeing the results of today's smarter driving lessons, and hearing how much money the participants save once they have the know-how”.”
Andrew Adonis, Minister of State for Transport, said: “At a time when we are all looking for ways to save money, smarter driving offers a real opportunity to cut fuel costs. It is also an easy and effective way of cutting our carbon footprint by reducing car CO2 emissions.
“Having taken a smarter driving lesson myself I was surprised to see just how big the fuel savings can be, and it is good to see the techniques being rolled out further so that more and more people can benefit.”
All the participants are currently monitoring the CO2 emitted as they drive. To see the impact of the lesson on their miles per gallon (MPG) as it is tracked over the course of the competition, go to:
www.direct.gov.uk/ActOnCo2/PeoplePower
* If drivers follow all the Smarter Driving tips listed on the ACT ON CO2 website they could save up to 8% of fuel a year. The 8% fuel saving assumption is based on trials undertaken by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA). This is equivalent to saving an individual up to one month’s fuel in a year.
**This calculation has been provided by EST and uses the total yearly fuel consumption by all cars in the South East region of England (taken from the 'Energy consumption in the UK: transport data tables', published by department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, July 2008) and is based on the estimated 8% yearly fuel saving, and an average price of 89.07p/litre for petrol and 101.24p/litre for diesel.