Going green while driving can be done even if you don’t own the hottest new hybrid car. I have a few great gas-saving tips that you can start using in your new car or truck, and according to the U.S. Department of Energy, aggressive driving behaviors such as rapid acceleration, speeding and braking can lower gas mileage significantly. Sensible driving not only helps conserve precious fuel resources while saving money, it’s also safer for all drivers.
Take a look at these tips:
Tires are the key. Keeping your tires properly inflated is important for overall vehicle safety, and it can also help with your miles per gallon up to about 4%. If your tires are under inflated it will increase the rolling resistance which will reduce your fuel economy. Check the outside walls of your tires for the suggested inflation levels.
Lighten your load before a trip.
Lighten your load. If you have a vehicle with a roof rack, putting a lot of luggage on the top of your car will not only reduce your fuel economy by as much as 5%, but it will also affect your vehicle’s aerodynamics. Also, take a look in your trunk and clean out any items that aren’t absolutely necessary.
No need to warm up. With modern engines there’s no need to idle in the morning to let your car warm up. Plus, if you’re not in traffic and idling for more than 30 seconds (like in the line at a drive-through restaurant), turning your engine off will help save emissions and wasted gas.
Take it slow and cruise. Using your cruise control and maintaining a steady speed will conserve more gas than pumping the accelerator. Also, just reducing your speed by 10 mph can give you a 10-15% improvement in overall fuel economy.
Those tips should help your fuel economy and vehicle emissions, and I will continue researching more gas-saving tips for a future blog post. If you have any tips for me, feel free to post them in the comments below!
