We should all look for small ways to lessen our environmental impact. One way to do this is to cut down on driving - however, some people need to drive. For those people, the Car Care Council has put together a list of 5 things you can do to be more eco friendly while driving, and increase your fuel efficiency without switching to a hybrid or electric car.
Plan Your Trips in Advance and Drive Smoother
- By cutting out unnecessary acceleration and jumpy starts and stops, you’ll end up saving more gas in the long run. Also, if you have a few places to go, make sure you are being as efficient as possible with your trip. Not only will you save time, but you’ll also save gas by driving fuel efficiently.
Keep Your Car Tuned Up
Regular maintenance, and especially cleaning your car’s air filters, will decrease your emissions and make your car run a lot better. According to the Car Care Council, a tune-up can save you 4% on the price of gas, and a new air filter could improve your car’s fuel efficiency by 10%. Never underestimate a trip to the body shop!
Drive Lighter
Although we’re told that a heavier car is safer for driving in winter conditions, it’s spring time and it’s time to lose some of your car’s excess baggage. Other than emergency items, make sure you don’t have any spare bags of sand kicking around. Any extra weight will add up to your car’s gas consumption, which isn’t a fuel efficient way to drive.
Check your tire’s inflation
A tire filled to its recommended pressure will drive smoother, and save a car’s gas consumption. In fact, the Car Care Council estimates 2 billion gallons of gas could be saved every year if people only inflated their tires properly. Now that’s a lot of unnecessary emissions. Be sure to check your tires to ensure your car is driving as fuel efficiently as possible.
Broken gas caps leak fuel
Here’s a tip that you may not have ever considered: check your gas cap for cracks and breaks, because faulty gas caps allow your fuel to evaporate! Car Care Council estimates 17% of cars on the road have busted gas caps that lead to 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize each year.
And remember, being greener behind the wheel means you’re more fuel efficient, which also saves money.
Article source: http://www.greenerideal.com/vehicles/8769-vehicles/8769-5-ways-to-drive-green-without-buying-an-eco-friendly-car
