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| Source: | Alliance to Save Energy |
| Published: | Friday, June 06, 2008 |
Americans driving this summer are expected to emit more than 600 million metric tons of CO2, according to the Energy Information Administration. Consider these money-saving and CO2-reducing gas tips to help your pocketbook and the planet:
Get more Miles to the Gallon
· Inflate Your Tires. Keeping your tires properly inflated is simple and improves gas mileage up to 3%, reducing your carbon footprint up to 390 pounds and saving as much as $65 in gas costs.
· Tune up. Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve gas mileage by an average of 4% — reducing your carbon footprint by nearly 490 pounds and saving up to $80 in gas costs. Fixing a faulty oxygen sensor can improve mileage by as much as 40% — reducing your carbon footprint up to 4900 pounds and saving as much as $800.
· Drive sensibly. Around town, avoiding speeding, rapid accelerations, and braking can improve gas mileage by 5% – reducing your carbon footprint by up to 580 pounds and saving as much as $100 in gas costs.
· Avoid idling. Idling gets 0 miles and 19 pounds of CO2 per gallon. Cars with larger engines typically waste even more gas while idling than cars with smaller engines. According to Consumer Reports (http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/tires-auto-parts/car-maintenance/get-the-most-mileage-for-your-fuel-dollars-406/), as a rule of thumb, turn off your engine if you will be idling for more than 30 seconds.
Drive Less
· Cut Miles. If you can cut your vehicle miles traveled by just 5% through combining trips, walking, biking, or taking public transportation, you can save up to $100 per year on gasoline costs. Walking and biking are good for your health too!
· Consider other transportation options. Investigate alternative options for getting to work and other places. Check out the public transportation, carpooling, and ridesharing resources on the Drive $marter Challenge website.
· Telecommute or Stagger Work Hours. If your employer permits, avoid sitting in traffic and wasting gas, especially during peak rush hours. A worker who telecommutes twice a week can save about $390 a year in gasoline costs.
Make Greener Choices
· Request a Green Rental. Request a vehicle that gets better fuel economy, and remember to fill up the tank before returning the car to the rental company, which charges much higher gas prices – and perhaps even an extra gas surcharge.
· Buy $mart. When buying a new or used vehicle, think high gas mileage. Check out the U.S. Department of Energy’s website (fueleconomy.gov) or look for a SmartWay® certified vehicle on EPA’s Green Vehicle Guide (epa.gov/greenvehicles) for more information on fuel-efficient vehicles.
· Take the Drive $marter Challenge and get more money-saving fuel-efficiency ideas and related product discounts. Share them with your family and friends and “fuel the challenge” (www.drivesmarterchallenge.org.)
(*Tips are calculated as annual savings, driving the national average of 12,500 miles per year in a vehicle with a fuel economy of 20.1 mpg using regular grade gasoline at $3.21 per gallon—the projected 2008 annual average by the Energy Information Administration’s March Short Term Energy Outlook. Savings estimates represent the highest likely savings to occur. Individual savings will vary depending on how many miles you drive per year, the fuel economy of your vehicle, your region’s climate, and your current maintenance and driving habits.)