Eco-friendly, energy-efficient, environmentally conscious, green... Whatever people call it, it means doing the earth a favor and often improving our well-being and saving money at the same time. Transportation is a huge generator of pollution and waste and a depletor of natural resources and personal funds. What some people may not know is that aside from the choice of the vehicle itself, it is primarily their own driving habits that can make the most difference in terms of driving in an earth-friendly manner.
When it comes to green driving, most tips revolve around fuel economy. Saving gas is a controllable variable and has huge benefits for the environment. The following eight tips are easy to understand and put into practice. Some are simply changes in the physical action of driving a vehicle, while others use certainparts and accessories to enhance the car's functionality. Drivers should follow as many of these tips as possible for green driving.
Green Driving Defined
The concept of green driving has evolved over the last several decades, with some techniques being universally applicable and others coming into practice along with newer technologies. Hardcore green driving enthusiasts, often called "hypermilers," may practice advanced yet controversial and potentially unsafe or illegal tactics, such as drafting and coasting. These kinds of tips are not discussed here; rather, readers will find safe, useful information to help them incorporate green driving safely into their daily living.
Gas-Saving Tips
The following eight tips are those that result in less consumption of gasoline. Fuel emissions are one of the biggest environmental problems caused by transportation, and reducing the amount of gas used when driving is a big green boost.
1. Blow Them Up
Inflating tires to their maximum safe pressure facilitates the rolling of the car so that the car moves along more easily using less fuel. Tire pressure is measured in pounds per square inch (psi) and can be ascertained by using a simple tire pressure gauge. The ideal tire pressure can be found on a placard on the end of the driver's side door (visible when the door is open). This information is also usually listed in the car owner's manual. By making a point of checking their tire pressure on a regular basis, drivers can make improvements in how much gasoline they use.
2. Lighten the Load
It takes energy to move an object. The more weight needs to be moved, the more energy is required to move it. The same goes for a car: The heavier the car, the more gas is needed to run it. Keeping an automobile as light as possible is a good way to reduce fuel consumption. Many people have a tendency to use their car's trunk for storage. While it is a good idea to have an emergency road kit on hand, a lot of the items that are normally lugged around can be kept in a hall closet, garage, or outbuilding.
3. Keep It Steady
Anyone who has ever ridden with a driver who stomps on the gas and then the brake pedal repeatedly knows how annoying it feels. It turns out that this bad driving habit is more than an annoyance; it is also a terrible waste of gas. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that steady driving can lead to a significant savings per gallon of gas. Drivers should consider that stop-and-start driving does not lead them to a destination any faster; one must still succumb to the flow of traffic. Try accelerating and braking more gradually and see if this does not increase the time between fill-ups as well as reduce driving stress.
4. Slow It Down
Speed limits are posted for for general safety and traffic control, but there is another good reason to obey them. Studies show that after a certain point, driving faster than the speed limit reduces gas mileage and does not necessarily result in a shorter commute. Each vehicle has a different mileage rate, which is affected by different factors depending on aerodynamics, driving habits, and so on. For illustrative purposes, however, the following chart shows how a car that gets 30 miles per gallon on the highway at its optimal speed of 55 miles per hour suffers from a mileage decrease with every 5 mile-per-hour increase in speed.
Speed in Miles per Hour | Miles per Gallon |
|---|---|
55 | 30.0 |
60 | 29.1 |
65 | 27.6 |
70 | 24.9 |
75 | 23.1 |
80 | 21.6 |
This goes to show that while driving faster feels more efficient, it is not the ideal state for a car to run in. Try keeping an eye on thespeedometer for a month and note the difference.
5. Plan Ahead
Keeping a running list of shopping needs and errands is helpful in many ways. It saves time, money, and fuel. It is also more convenient to consolidate trips into one chunk of time per week than to be running around on a daily basis. Drivers can establish a regular "errand day" each week and, if their job allows it, possibly rearrange their work schedule so that they have a full or half day off weekly. They can use this time to schedule appointments, do shopping, and run all errands.
6. Quit Being Idle
Many drivers are confused about what to do when they are stuck somewhere for a few minutes. Some people have heard that they should let the car idle because restarting the engine uses more fuel; others have been told to turn their cars off in order to save gas. The truth is that idling for more than about 30 seconds wastes more gas than turning the car off and turning it back on again. Drivers should use discretion here. In a fast food drive-thru, for example, one has to try to judge how quickly the line is moving and how long the line is; it is sometimes easier (and less annoying to other drivers) to leave the car running. In a traffic jam, if the traffic is crawling, it is best to leave the car running; if traffic has completely stopped, it is probably safe to turn off the ignition. At a railroad crossing, however, cutting the engine is almost always the best choice, since most trains take at least 30 seconds (and usually longer) to pass, and it is always obvious when traffic can start moving again.
7. Go Cruising
Not all automobiles are equipped with a cruise control unit, but those that are offer fuel savings at the push of a button. When driving for long stretches on highways, locking in the car's speed results in a steady speed, which not only increases fuel economy but minimizes the chances of being pulled over for speeding. Drivers who do not use the cruise control function are losing money, not only because this option costs extra but also because they are not getting optimal fuel economy.
8. Get Into Gear
High gear, that is. Surprisingly, driving in higher gears saves gas. When a car is in higher gear, the engine turns less, meaning fewer combustions or less gas used. This does not mean, however, that drivers should drive as fast as possible. It simply means that if someone is driving at a speed near the gear-changing threshold, it is best to speed up a few miles per hour and upshift to ease the strain on the engine. Watch the tachometer for clues on when to shift.
Green Driving Myths
Drivers who see some of the tips they have heard about missing from this guide may be surprised to find out that many of these so-called "tips" are actually myths. The following two are the biggest misconceptions with regard to fuel-efficient driving.
Change the Air Filter
It sounds logical that a cleaner air filter would make it easier for the engine to achieve the correct fuel mixture, but testers have found that there is no significant difference in gas mileage with a clean versus a dirty air filter. Newer cars feature engine computers that are able to adjust the fuel-to-air ratio quite well. This is not to say that the air filter should not be changed; it just means that it may not be as crucial to gas mileage as car owners once thought.
Air Conditioning Vs. Windows
Drivers have long struggled with the decision to roll down the windows as opposed to running the air conditioner in the car. While the air conditioner was thought to increase fuel consumption, open windows were believed to reduce the aerodynamics of the vehicle. Tests show that on the highway in modern vehicles, neither choice resulted in a significant decline in gas mileage. With stop-and-start driving at low speeds in town, it appears to be a better choice to open the windows, but not to a large degree.
Where to Find Green Driving Aids
Car parts and accessories that can assist you in your quest for greener driving are available at auto parts retailers, discount stores, service stations, and auto mechanics. Junk yards may be a good resource as well. Some of these automotive items can be purchased used at garage sales, thrift stores, or through online auctions. Larger items are often sold through classified advertisements.
How to Buy Green Driving Aids on eBay
You can find many of the things you need to drive greener by shopping on eBay. Visit the eBay Motors automotive department and navigate to Parts and Accessories. You can also do a keyword search for a specific item by visiting the homepage and typing in the relevant word or phrase in the Search box. Once you have arrived at the landing page for the product you are looking for, you can use category filters to narrow down your results even further. If you are shopping on a budget, you can make use of the price range slider or click on used items only.
Consumers who are interested in taking their green driving to another level may be interested in visiting eBay's Green Driving page. Buyers can shop for cars that are designed to use less gas from the outset. These vehicles may feature electric, hybrid, diesel, ethanol, or natural gas technology. Others may include a standard gasoline engine but use less.
Conclusion
Green driving is not only better for the environment, it is also better for the driver's wallet. Most green driving techniques involve some method of reducing fuel use. The eight tips above can make a significant difference in a driver's gas mileage. To summarize, Keep tires properly inflated; remove unnecessary cargo from the vehicle; maintain a steady speed; obey the speed limit; consolidate trips; turn off the car's engine when standing for more than 30 seconds (and use discretion when following this tip, as it is not always safe or appropriate to turn the vehicle off); use the car's cruise control function, if available, whenever driving for long stretches of highway; shift up into the next higher gear when approaching the threshold instead of driving at high RPMs in a lower gear. While it is helpful to follow as many of these tips as possible, it is not necessary. Start with one or two that seem easier and work up to all of them. Keep an eye on the fuel gauge and see how much difference these tips can make.
