Smarter Living

This is where we have put all our tips for travelling and holidaying the ECOnomincal way!

Getting around

No-one is saying 'don't travel'.  But, when you do travel, try to do so in a way that will have less of an impact on the environment. Try to use public transport whenever possible - by planning your journey in advance, you may be surprised at how easy and effective this can be!

If you're not going far, why not try walking or cycling instead of driving?  Not only will this be better for the environment, but it will also improve your fitness.

If you want to go further affield check out the family and friends rail card website for details on how to save 1/3 off adult fares and 60% off kids fares when you travel by train. The website also has a list of places you can visit by train.

There are also railcards available for young people (aged 16-25), senior citizens and disabled people. Visit the railcard website for more information.

It is important that if you drive, you make sure that your vehicle is running as efficiently as possible. This will reduce your carbon emissions and make your fuel last longer!

Some ideas for improving the efficiency of your vehicle include:

• Ensuring that tyres are correctly inflated (this improves fuel efficiency, prolongs the life of your tyres and makes driving safer)
• Removing clutter from your car (less clutter = less weight = less fuel!)
• Drive at an appropriate speed, and avoid hard accelerating/breaking. Driving at 60mph uses approximately 10% less fuel than driving at 70mph
• Driving in the highest gear appropriate. By changing gear at 2,500 revs in a petrol car, or at 2,000 revs in a diesel car, you will be maximising fuel efficiency.

Have a holiday at home this year     £££  TTT

Beat the credit crunch and reduce your carbon footprint by holidaying in Britain this year. Instead of going abroad you could go to the Lake District, Scotland or Wales or any of our beautiful national parks. Try the Visit Britain website for more ideas for places to go.

Eco friendly day trips     :-)  £  TT

If you are staying at home this year but are looking for cheaper and greener ways of entertaining the children Hartlepool has so much to offer without even leaving town! We have a number of fabulous sandy beaches, museums, parks and of course Summerhill, for cheap days out without clocking up the air miles.

Not only that but there are numerous guided walks and family activities taking place all over town throughout the year. For more information about events and activities in Hartlepool visit the Tourist Information Office located in Hartlepool Art Gallery (the old Christ Church) on Church Square or telephone 01429 869706.

Also check out your local library, Sure Start Centre or the Families Information Service based in the Central Library.

Here are some websites you may also find useful:

• Visit the Destination Hartlepool website for details about Hartlepool's Maritime Experience, the Museum of Hartlepool and Hartlepool Art Gallery.
• Try Summerhill's website for their activity programme and information about the site.
• If you are looking for somewhere cultural to take the kids try the Culture 24 website for details of museums near you - many of which are free entry!