|
|
Slow Starts, Slow
Stops -
We all know the story of the tortoise and the hare, and the
same principle applies to driving. Excessive acceleration
and braking can increase fuel consumption by as much as 20
percent, so keep your foot off the pedals as much as
possible. Anticipate stops and let the car decelerate slowly
by easing off the gas rather than waiting till the last
second to pound on the brake. The only prize you'll win for
being the first to break away from the pack when the light
turns green is the prize for inefficient use of gasoline, so
accelerate slowly and steadily, and once you get up to speed
maintain as constant a pace as you can. You may not be the
first to get there, but you'll win the prize for efficient
driving.
Don't Be Idle -
Waiting in line at the bank or fast-food drive-through is
something we would all rather avoid, and fortunately there
is a very simple and economical alternative - park your car
and walk into the establishment. Letting your car idle is
the equivalent of getting zero miles per gallon, so the
longer it idles, the lower your overall gas mileage will be.
As a rule of thumb, if you expect your wait might be longer
than 30 seconds, you'll be better off shutting off the
engine.
Know Where You're Going -
How many times have you driven around looking for an ATM,
gas station, or fast food outlet? We all do it, and it's
time we start thinking of it as what it is - wasting gas.
With a little advance planning you can eliminate the
drive-and-seek navigational tactic and go directly to your
destination. If you don't have a GPS device you can still
map your journey using the many tools available on the
internet. Services such as
MapQuest
and Google
Maps not only provide turn-by-turn directions and maps,
but they can also help you locate the services you need. Use
the "store locator" feature available on many websites to
find restaurants, gas stations, and other services before
you leave home. Even a low-tech strategy like keeping a
paper map in the car at all times can reduce the amount of
gas you use while looking for things, so plan more and drive
less.
Slow and Easy Does
It -
Time is money, but do you realize how much money it costs
you to get to your destination a few minutes sooner?
According to tests performed by Consumer Reports, the fuel
consumption of a Toyota Camry decreased by 25 percent when
driven at 55 mph rather than 75. When driven at 55 mph, the
car got about 40 miles per gallon (mpg); at 65 mph the
mileage was reduced to 35 mpg; and at 75 mph the car only
got 30 mpg! If you think of it as paying $5 for a gallon of
gas instead of $4, you'll probably decide that taking a few
more minutes to reach your destination is time well spent.
Pump It Up -
You don't have to be a mechanical genius to get more miles
per gallon out of your car - there is a very simple
adjustment that anyone can make. Underinflated tires require
more energy (in the form of gasoline) to roll, and they wear
out faster as well. Check the air pressure in your tires at
least once a month with a tire gauge, and keep
them inflated to the pressure recommended by the
manufacturer of the vehicle. (This information is typically
found on a sticker on the driver's door jamb or in the
owner's manual. Ignore the maximum tire pressure embossed on
the tire itself.) According to some estimates, keeping your
tires properly inflated can save up to $100 a year in
gasoline, so keep the pressure up.
|
|
Paper or plastic?
Get your
earth-friendly shopping bags today.
Click
here.
|
|
|
