18. Speaking of AC. Only use it on the highways. It's more efficient to roll down the windows when you're going 40 miles per hour or less. The air conditioning is a better choice when you're going faster. 19. Slow down. Obeying the speed limit is more efficient for your car-especially on the highway. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.30 per gallon for gas. Besides saving gas, driving the speed limit is also safer for you and your passengers. 20. Don't stop. Didn't we just mention safety? Yes. Always obey traffic laws and be watchful of the vehicles and pedestrians around you. However, if you can safely (and legally) slow down enough to avoid actually stopping (such as when a stop light is a long way ahead of you), then do it. It takes less gas to speed up than to start from a full stop. Follow these tips, and soon you'll be saving some pennies (and eventually some nickels, dimes or even dollars)! If you think those of us in North America have it bad, think of our brethren in Europe: Gas tops $8 a gallon on much of the continent, including Norway, Britain, Belgium and Germany. Ouch! For more information on saving gas and picking a fuel-efficient vehicle, check out www.FuelEconomy.gov, a website maintained by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These tips won't bring down the cost of gas, but they will help you use less gas, which in turn will save you money. Following the tips below can improve the efficiency of your car by up to 30 percent, according to drivers who've adapted such tactics! A bonus is that many of these tips will also help you help the environment. Go green while saving some green! 1. Combine trips. If you know you're going across town for soccer practice, stop by any stores you might need to visit in that area. Try to group errands geographically. 2. Downsize. Unless you need an SUV, minivan or full-size truck, then trade it in for a more efficient model. Want to save even more money? Switch to a hybrid (the prices have dropped in the last few years) or learn to drive a motorcycle or scooter. (Not exactly an option with kids, but maybe your partner could drive one to work.) Continued › |
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About The Author
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Stepfanie Romine A former newspaper reporter, Stepfanie now writes about nutrition, health and fitness, with an emphasis on whole foods and from-scratch cooking. She is a certified Ashtanga yoga teacher who enjoys Spinning, international travel and vegetables of all kinds. See all of Stepfanie's articles. |
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