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June/July 2013 www.esb.ie/em
HEALTH & HABITAT
Image in-box a selection of your photography
ECO DRIVING
SAFE DRIVING
By Grainne Coogan
» ECO DRIVING TECHNIQUES CAN ENHANCE YOUR SAFETY, MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCETOTHE ENVIRONMENT AND HELP YOU SAVE FUEL BY 10%.
TEN TIPS FOR ECO DRIVING:
1 Shift to a higher gear as soon as possible and drive with low engine revs per minute (RPM) - more revs equals more fuel use.
2 Lower your speed - driving at 2110km/h can use up to 25% more fuel than at 90km/h.
3 Maintain a steady speed - stop-3 start driving is much less efficient and more polluting than driving at a constant speed. Anticipate traffic flow to avoid unnecessary acceleration and frequent repetitive braking which wastes fuel. Decelerate smoothly when you have to slow down by releasing the accelerator in time, leaving the car in gear.
4 Where possible, plan your journeys 4to avoid congestion.
5 Try to avoid short vehicle trips by U walking or cycling.
6 Plan to do a number of errands in one trip rather than several trips, so saving you both time and fuel.
7 Minimise aerodynamic drag by I removing roof and bike racks when not in use. Racks, spoilers and open windows increase air resistance and fuel consumption, in some cases by up to 20% at higher speeds.
8 Travel light - avoid using your 8vehicle as a mobile storeroom.
Leave heavy items like golf clubs or tools at home when you don't need them.
9 Look after your tyres - inflate them to the highest pressure recommended by the manufacturer and make sure your wheels are properly aligned. Looking after your tyres will not only reduce your fuel consumption - it will also extend tyre life and improve handling.
10 Keep yourvehicle in good condition-get it serviced at the intervals specified in the manufacturer's handbook.
For more information contact Gráinne Coogan, Communications Officer at 01 4631721, email safedriving@esb.ie or visit the Safe Driving Website: http://esbnet/safedriving.
SECRET CORK
WHAT'S NEW?
By Dave Walshe
I WAS RECENTLY given a gift, for a significant milestone, for the Clarion Hotel in Cork city. A weekend B&B with an evening meal on the night of arrival - the perfect getaway!
Banish a long trip to Cork from your mind; the motorway has brought Cork so much closer it is now a very reachable destination for a weekend break. The hotel was very good, with attentive staff that were willing to help and oblige without waiting to be asked. The breakfast, always a good barometer for me, was sumptuous. We opted to dine in the hotel on the Saturday night so we headed out to find a place to eat on the Friday. What struck me was how compact and concentrated the centre of Cork city is. It's bustling now in recession, so I wonder what it was like during our recent boom!
The trusty smartphone threw up a few places in the vicinity and we settled on The Cornstore restaurant on Cornmarket Street, as our first three choices were already fully booked. When a restaurant can go into your top ten straightaway it is a good sign. The food was brilliant, but the service was the standout memory. Help selecting your food is a given; help on everything else to do in Cork isn't. Our waitress couldn't have been more helpful. An error in giving us a table already reserved was rectified with such charm we felt those getting the table we vacated were getting the raw deal. Seek out this place the next time you are in Cork.
The Saturday turned out to be a beautiful day so we headed out towards Kinsale. We spent some time wandering around and finally settled on the TV celeb chef restaurant Fishy Fishy for lunch. Okay, we took the TV bait compared to the multitude of others available, but we were glad we did - a wonderful fish lunch was provided. I had a Crab Salad and my wife went for traditional fish and chips. Both were prepared wonderfully, albeit a little expensively.
Again, we will be back.
The day trip on Saturday was rounded off with a coffee in Bunnyconnellan's in Myrtleville.This majestic place is a bit of a Cork secret and they like to keep it to themselves. All manner of family events were being celebrated when we got there and there was a great buzz about the place. We just had coffee together with the best chocolate rocky road dessert ‘evur'! The day ended with a trip to Cobh, our first time to visit. It totally charmed us with the added bonus of seeing a ‘ginormous’ cruise ship moored. A lot in a weekend but then there is a lot to do and see in Cork.
Check out www.clarionhotelcorkcity.com www.cornstorecork.com www.bunnyconnellan.ie www.fishyfishy.ie.
