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Driving Tips
Bundle Errands
When you start your car after it's been sitting for more than an hour, it pollutes up to five times more than when the engine is warm. That's why combining errands into one trip is more effective and reduces air pollution – if you go out for your errands all at once, your engine will remain warm, emitting less than when starting it hours apart for separate errands. This means more time on your hands, less traffic congestion and less pollution - which all add up to cleaner air. So make a list, plan your route and bundle your errands. You'll be saving a lot more than just time.
Learn more at the It All Adds Up
When you start your car after it's been sitting for more than an hour, it pollutes up to five times more than when the engine is warm. That's why combining errands into one trip is more effective and reduces air pollution – if you go out for your errands all at once, your engine will remain warm, emitting less than when starting it hours apart for separate errands. This means more time on your hands, less traffic congestion and less pollution - which all add up to cleaner air. So make a list, plan your route and bundle your errands. You'll be saving a lot more than just time.
Learn more at the It All Adds Up
Save Fuel by Slowing Down
Hard acceleration and braking can waste fuel and lower your mileage by 33% on the highway and 5% around town according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In Consumer Reports tests of a compact family sedan and a large sport-utility vehicle, fuel economy was improved by almost 15% when driving 65 mph vs. 75 mph on the highway. That translates to an average annual CO2 savings of about 1,500 pounds, and the CO2 savings for the SUV were even greater than for the sedan (1,900 lbs/yr). To improve fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, go easy on the brakes and gas pedal, reduce time spent idling, and use overdrive and cruise control on your car if you have those features. Hard acceleration and braking can also waste fuel and lower your mileage by 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent around town.
For more tips to improve your gas mileage, visit the Fuel Economy Guide.
Learn more at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Hard acceleration and braking can waste fuel and lower your mileage by 33% on the highway and 5% around town according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In Consumer Reports tests of a compact family sedan and a large sport-utility vehicle, fuel economy was improved by almost 15% when driving 65 mph vs. 75 mph on the highway. That translates to an average annual CO2 savings of about 1,500 pounds, and the CO2 savings for the SUV were even greater than for the sedan (1,900 lbs/yr). To improve fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, go easy on the brakes and gas pedal, reduce time spent idling, and use overdrive and cruise control on your car if you have those features. Hard acceleration and braking can also waste fuel and lower your mileage by 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent around town.
For more tips to improve your gas mileage, visit the Fuel Economy Guide.
Learn more at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Get Rid of Unnecessary Weight
Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by 2% or more for small cars. A roof rack or carrier provides additional cargo space and may allow you to meet your needs with a smaller car. However, a loaded roof rack can decrease your fuel economy by 5%. Reduce aerodynamic drag and improve your fuel economy by placing items inside the trunk whenever possible.
Learn more at Fuel Economy.gov
Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by 2% or more for small cars. A roof rack or carrier provides additional cargo space and may allow you to meet your needs with a smaller car. However, a loaded roof rack can decrease your fuel economy by 5%. Reduce aerodynamic drag and improve your fuel economy by placing items inside the trunk whenever possible.
Learn more at Fuel Economy.gov
Maintain Your Car Regularly
A well-maintained vehicle produces 20% less ozone-related emissions, saves money on gas, and means less traffic congestion due to breakdowns! If all Americans kept their tires properly inflated (and a government study shows that many don't), gasoline use nationwide would come down 2 percent. If you don’t know the correct tire pressure for your vehicle, you can find it listed on the door to the glove compartment or on the driver's-side door pillar. A tune-up could boost your miles per gallon anywhere from 4 to 40 percent; a new air filter could get you 10 percent more miles per gallon. More details on the Fuel Economy Guide Web site.
Learn more at Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
A well-maintained vehicle produces 20% less ozone-related emissions, saves money on gas, and means less traffic congestion due to breakdowns! If all Americans kept their tires properly inflated (and a government study shows that many don't), gasoline use nationwide would come down 2 percent. If you don’t know the correct tire pressure for your vehicle, you can find it listed on the door to the glove compartment or on the driver's-side door pillar. A tune-up could boost your miles per gallon anywhere from 4 to 40 percent; a new air filter could get you 10 percent more miles per gallon. More details on the Fuel Economy Guide Web site.
Learn more at Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Car Sharing
Need a car but don’t want to buy one? Community car sharing organizations provide access to a car and your membership fee covers gas, maintenance and insurance. It's the convenience of a car without the hassle of paying for one. Many companies – such as Flexcar and ZipCar – offer low emission or hybrid cars too!
Learn more at Consumer Reports
Need a car but don’t want to buy one? Community car sharing organizations provide access to a car and your membership fee covers gas, maintenance and insurance. It's the convenience of a car without the hassle of paying for one. Many companies – such as Flexcar and ZipCar – offer low emission or hybrid cars too!
Learn more at Consumer Reports
Use Renewable Fuels
Both E85 and biodiesel are renewable fuels that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from your vehicle. E85 is a fuel blend containing 85% ethanol that can be used in certain vehicles called Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs). FFVs can be fueled with E85 or with traditional gasoline. There are approximately 6 million FFVs on the road today. To find out if you own one of them, check the inside of your car's fuel filler door for an identification sticker or consult your owner’s manual. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel made from agricultural resources such as vegetable oils. If you own a diesel vehicle, consider filling up with a biodiesel blend such as B5, a fuel blend containing 5% biodiesel, or higher. Unlike gasoline, all diesel vehicles can use biodiesel. The Department of Energy’s Alternative Fueling Station Locator can help you locate both E85 and biodiesel fuel stations in your area.
Learn more at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Both E85 and biodiesel are renewable fuels that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from your vehicle. E85 is a fuel blend containing 85% ethanol that can be used in certain vehicles called Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs). FFVs can be fueled with E85 or with traditional gasoline. There are approximately 6 million FFVs on the road today. To find out if you own one of them, check the inside of your car's fuel filler door for an identification sticker or consult your owner’s manual. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel made from agricultural resources such as vegetable oils. If you own a diesel vehicle, consider filling up with a biodiesel blend such as B5, a fuel blend containing 5% biodiesel, or higher. Unlike gasoline, all diesel vehicles can use biodiesel. The Department of Energy’s Alternative Fueling Station Locator can help you locate both E85 and biodiesel fuel stations in your area.
Learn more at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Choose an Efficient Vehicle
A car that gets 20 miles per gallon will emit about 50 tons of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. A car getting 40 mpg will emit half that much. When buying your next car, pick the least-polluting, most efficient vehicle that meets your needs. Maybe it's an innovative hybrid that combines a gasoline engine with electric motors (and never needs to be plugged in). Or maybe it's a wagon instead of an SUV. And over the average lifetime of an American car, a 40-mpg car will save roughly $3,000 in fuel costs compared with a 20-mpg car. Before buying a new or used vehicle (or even before renting a vehicle), check out EPA's Green Vehicle Guide and the jointly-run EPA/DOE Fuel Economy Guide. These resources provide information about the emissions and fuel economy performance of different vehicles.
Learn more at Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
A car that gets 20 miles per gallon will emit about 50 tons of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. A car getting 40 mpg will emit half that much. When buying your next car, pick the least-polluting, most efficient vehicle that meets your needs. Maybe it's an innovative hybrid that combines a gasoline engine with electric motors (and never needs to be plugged in). Or maybe it's a wagon instead of an SUV. And over the average lifetime of an American car, a 40-mpg car will save roughly $3,000 in fuel costs compared with a 20-mpg car. Before buying a new or used vehicle (or even before renting a vehicle), check out EPA's Green Vehicle Guide and the jointly-run EPA/DOE Fuel Economy Guide. These resources provide information about the emissions and fuel economy performance of different vehicles.
Learn more at Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
