Going Green - good for your business, good for your drivers and good for the environment.

A green fleet is one that strives to minimise exhaust emissions and fuel consumption by educating and encouraging all drivers to develop a culture where cars and vans are utilised in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible.

Evidence from the UK's largest fleet operators have shown that care and attention to good fleet management principles both decreases their environmental impact and leads to direct cost savings.

The government's green agenda has already seen major changes to both company and employee taxation based on CO2 emissions with the change benefiting carbon efficient fleets especially where emissions are below 160g/km.

Even the greenest and cleanest vehicles can only perform as well as they are driven which is why driver training can be so effective at reducing fuel bills and therefore C02. By implementing some simple changes to the way you and your employees drive you can improve fuel consumption by around 15%.

Satellite navigation systems will help avoid congestion and find the most direct, efficient route to your destination whilst installing telematic systems enables you to reduce mileage by recording and analysing business travel.

Top 5 green hatchbacks & superminis

Smart fortwo CDi Passion - with a tiny 86g/km of CO2 and 85.6mpg on a combined cycle.

Volkswagen Polo Bluemotion TDi - with 91g/km of CO2 and 80.7mpg combined.

Ford Fiesta 1.6 Duratorq TDCi - with 98g/km of CO2 and 76.3mpg combined.

SEAT Ibiza 1.4 TDi Ecomotive - with 98g/km of CO2 and 76.3mpg combined.

Toyota iQ 1.0 VVT-i 2 3dr - with 99g/km of CO2 and 65.7mpg combined.

Top 5 green saloons

Toyota Prius T3 Hybrid 1.8 VVT-i 5dr - with 89g/km CO2 and 72.4mpg combined.

Honda Insight 1.3 IMA SE 5dr CVT - with a meer 101g/km of CO2 and 64.2mpg on a combined cycle.

Honda Civic Saloon 1.4 i-Dsi ES 5dr IMA CVT Auto WITH 109g/km of CO2 and 61.4 mpg combined.

Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi Econetic 3dr - with 114g/km of CO2 and 65.6mpg combined.

Peugeot 207 1.4 HDi S 3dr with 117g/km of CO2 and 65.7mpg combined.

Top tips for a greener fleet

Offer cars with low CO2 to reduce NIC and employee's car tax bills.

Ensure that your vehicles are properly maintained, regularly serviced and regular checks on things such as tyre pressures etc can have a big impact on the fuel consumption.

Record & monitor individual fuel consumption to encourage fuel efficient driving.

Identify opportunities to reduce mileage by recording and monitoring business travel.

Encourage a culture of safe and economic driving through the use of training and awareness campaigns.

Use satellite navigation and telematics to make journeys shorter, less congested and more direct.