July 14, 2010
Easy Ways to Save Gas
Too many cars!
I am not an austere person and enjoy the pleasures of life gladly and readily. But I hate to waste.
I am of the philosophy that the more we save for the future generations, the easier and better their lives will be.
And really, it doesn’t take much effort.
With the oil spill in the Gulf preoccupying the world, cars have been on my mind quite a bit this summer.
I know that most of us are not going to stop driving. I know I can’t. I have to drive to work every day – there is no public transportation available on that route. But there are still small steps all of us can take. When added up, they make a difference.
Regardless of the kind of car one owns, there are ways to drive more efficiently. Over the course of a year, this starts to add up. Not just in money saved on gas, but also in conservation of natural resources and less pollution of our atmosphere.
Try these tips and see what happens:
Control acceleration – When you slowly and steadily accelerate to your desired cruising speed, the vehicle works more efficiently and needs less gas.
Empty the trunk – Many of us carry stuff in our trunks that we don’t actually need. By making our car lighter, we could be saving a lot of energy in a year.
Turn off the air conditioning – The use of air conditioning can increase fuel consumption by up to 10 percent. I know it’s too hot to talk about it these days, but just remember this fact for the future!
Keep your car well maintained – Your car should be serviced at regular intervals. Dirty oil is bad for the air, and it also requires more energy for the engine to work as it should. Sensible maintenance can also save you from larger repair bills in the future.
Slow down – The faster your car moves the greater the drag it creates in the surrounding air. A reduction of twenty miles per hour in your regular highway speed can yield measurable savings in a year.
Coast to a stop – When you see a red light or stop sign coming up, coast to the stop instead of hitting the brakes when you get there. By doing so you will save money in both gas and brake replacement and also keep the environment cleaner.
Avoid the Drive-Through – A fast-food or bank drive-through requires you to waste fuel as you wait in line for the pickup. Parking your car and walking offers a better alternative.
Check tire air pressure – Properly inflated tires can reduce fuel consumption by up to 3 percent and allow your car to roll more efficiently. Remember not to inflate your tires too much; excessive air pressure in tires is dangerous and should be avoided.
Drive when you have to – One of the best ways to drive greener is to simply not drive. Combine chores into one trip or walk and ride your bike whenever possible.
It would be very hard to follow each one of these tips all the time. Do the best you can. Every single change in our lifestyle makes a big difference for the future of our children and the world we all live in.
Gracious Living - Day by Day 