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Volkswagen has joined forces
with The National Trust to
encourage eco-friendly,
fuel-efficient driving. The
company has been holding a
series of roadshows at National
Trust properties across the UK,
demonstrating to visitors how
best to minimise their impact on
the environment by making
changes to their vehicle and
driving style.
The roadshows have so far
covered North Yorkshire,
Cheshire, Derbyshire and
Wiltshire. Two further events
are scheduled at Lanhydrock in
Cornwall (21-23 September) and
Polesden Lacey in Surrey (28-30
September).
At
each of the locations, a team of
experts from Volkswagen will
check drivers’ cars and offer
advice on how to reduce
emissions and increase fuel
efficiency. Tips include
checking tyre pressures;
reducing a car’s weight;
reducing speed and heavy
braking; planning journeys to
avoid jams and unnecessary
detours; cutting down on in-car
electrical systems; and regular
servicing to ensure optimum
performance. By following the
simple tips, it’s estimated that
the UK’s motorists could reduce
carbon dioxide emissions by
eight per cent and so
collectively cut more than 5.5
million tonnes of CO2
– and save themselves over £2
billion a year in fuel costs.
Visitors to the events will also
have the opportunity to test
drive Volkswagen’s new Polo
BlueMotion, which has an
official combined cycle fuel
consumption figure of 74.3 mpg,
and a CO2 figure of
99 gm per km. It is also fitted
with a diesel particulate filter
as standard equipment, meaning
it produces fewer harmful
emissions.
Rob Jarman, Head of
Sustainability at The National
Trust says: ‘The National Trust
hopes that people can enjoy the
amazing natural beauty and
historic interest of our sites
whilst causing minimum damage to
the environment in the process.
Our ideal is for people to enjoy
our properties whilst using
minimum fuel and this is the
first step towards achieving
this ideal as it will at least
help our visitors to reduce
their emissions, aid our work on
preventing pollution and climate
change, while conserving our
national heritage.’
Peter Stokes, Environment
Manager at Volkswagen says:
‘With the Polo BlueMotion we
have what is currently one of
the most fuel efficient cars
available. We are therefore
delighted to be provided with a
new opportunity through this
initiative with The National
Trust to pass on advice on
efficient use of vehicles to its
visitors. Drivers can have an
enormous impact on reducing fuel
consumption and emissions
whatever vehicle they drive. At
Volkswagen we work hard to
improve the technology in our
products to reduce carbon
emissions and improve fuel
efficiency, and we are delighted
to pass on our expertise and
knowledge to The National
Trust’s visitors.’ |
