Visiting friends across town, heading into work, or going shopping means that, for the majority of us, we have to hop into our cars and drive.
Brian Lusk wrote a great Green Tuesday post a couple of weeks ago about his commute on public transportation to work, and we certainly encourage you to think of the alternatives to driving, such as public transportation, carpooling, and discovering bike paths. But, if you have to get into the car, here are some tips to help you save Green and go Green:
- Smooth and Steady. Braking frequently and rapid acceleration can really lower your gas mileage.
- Avoid the rush. While vehicles perform differently, gas mileage usually decreases above 60 mph. According to www.fueleconomy.gov, you can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.29 per gallon for gas.
- Take a load off. Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to two percent.
- Air! You can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3 percent for every one psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are also safer and last longer.
For more information, visit http://www.fueleconomy.gov/. How do you live, work, and transport Green? Let us know at by commenting below or at Green@wnco.com.
DING! You are now free to be Green.
