Formula One Goes eEco-Friendly

Transport is one of the largest contributors of greenhouse gases and pollution in Australia, with the fumes from our cars, buses and motorbikes all adding to the tonnes of petrol used each year.

In fact, Environment Victoria states that 15 per cent of all greenhouse pollution comes from transport – and most of it comes from driving cars.

When we make the effort to use eco friendly products and attempt to cut down on transport fumes by cycling or walking when we can, it seems unfair that some sports burn through fuel like there’s nothing wrong with it.

Car racing is just one of the sports that uses up plenty of fuel, some might say unnecessarily. Although the excitement of the track is a fun pastime for car-loving Australians, race cars can chew through litres of fuel in a single race.

However, the environmental implications of this have come to light in recent years, and Formula One have made a conscious effort to reduce the amount of fuel their cars use on the track.

Instead of 2.4 litre V8 engines, the cars now have more fuel-efficient 1.6 litre V6 engines, and new rules on fuel use have also been introduced to the racetrack.

In fact, the total amount of fuel each driver is allowed to use during the race has been cut by about a third, from 160 kg per race to 100 kg per race.

The result is a more fuel efficient, environmentally friendly way of racing, which was unveiled for the first time at the 2014 Formula One Australian Grand Prix in March.

Although the cars are still using an undesirable amount of fuel, the change goes to show that you are able to achieve the same results in a more environmentally friendly manner.

Users of eco friendly products may want to consider how they too can cut down on fuel use, perhaps by walking, using public transport, or driving smoothly and reducing heavy loads in the car.