How We Drive: Green Your Ride

Our vehicles and the way we drive them are causing more damage to our planet than nearly everything else we do.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, there are 241 million cars and trucks on the road in the United States. That’s 30 percent of the world’s automobiles. And to power them, we use 8.2 million barrels of oil per day.

What can you do? Changing what and how you drive can save you a small fortune, turn the tide on climate change and clean the air we breathe. Let’s get ready to roll.

Healthy Driving Habits | Drive Smart | Green Fuel | Skip a Trip | Learn  More

Healthy Driving Habits

Don’t drive like a maniac – Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.

Observe the speed limit – While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.24 per gallon for gas. Observing the speed limit is also safer.

Remove excess weight – A heavier car needs more gas. Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your mpg by up to 2 percent. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.

Turn it off – Idling gets 0 mpg. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than do cars with smaller engines. Allowing your car to idle for 10 seconds uses more gasoline than turning the car off, then on again.

Use cruise control – Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.

Put overdrive gears to use – When you use overdrive gearing, your car's engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces engine wear.

Keep your engine properly tuned – Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent. There are local programs designed to help vehicle owners comply with emissions standards.

Don’t overlook your tires – Keeping your tires properly inflated will save you about one tank of gas per year. Check your tire pressure monthly, preferably using the same tire gauge every time for consistency. The average tire loses about one pound per square inch every month. Underinflated tires don’t roll as efficiently and wear out faster. 

Use the recommended grade of motor oil – You can improve your gas mileage by 1-2 percent by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. For example, using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30 can lower your gas mileage by 1-2 percent. Using 5W-30 in an engine designed for 5W-20 can lower your gas mileage by 1-1.5 percent. Also, look for motor oil that says "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.

Roll up the windows – At highway speeds, open windows increase drag and fuel costs. Cool off by popping open car vents instead. Clear the air up there – Use car roof racks on an as-needed basis. Take off any roof boxes or racks to make your car more aerodynamic, which raises its fuel efficiency.

A loaded roof rack can decrease your fuel economy by 5 percent. If additional cargo space is needed, look for a style that is less tall and boxy.

Drive Smart

The average fuel economy in the United States is a low 20.2 miles per gallon while in Europe, the average is 35 mpg. The prime reason for this poor number is that many Americans are driving SUVs and big trucks, both averaging 18 mpg. Trading your car for a more fuel-efficient one not only makes sense financially but it is the best thing you can do for our environment.

Here are some simple tips for starters:

Find out fuel-efficiency for your current vehicle – visit the EPA’s Green Vehicle Guide to look up your car model and its highway and city fuel economy.

Get a greener car – browse and compare cars through a comprehensive listing of environmentally-friendly vehicle options and get ready to trade up!

Calculate your fuel savings – learn exactly how much you can save per gallon of gas for every vehicle you own and compare costs.

Keep a daily alternative commute log – sign up (for free) and log on to tryparkingit.com to track calories burned and miles and money saved by an alternative commute solution.

Choose Green Fuel

There are more than a dozen alternative and advanced fuels in production or use today.

Each alternative fuel option comes with pros and cons, and their environmental impacts vary, naturally. The right fuel for your vehicle, at your time and place is constantly changing as technology improves. The key is to stay informed and continue to follow trends in the world of alternative fuels and clean energy.

Note: Any switch to a fuel that is not specifically recommended for your engine by its manufacturer should take place after consultation with a qualified mechanic.

Skip a Trip

An astonishing 91 percent of Americans commute to work alone in their cars, averaging 30 miles per round trip. If one million drivers stayed parked for just one day, 20,000 tons of CO2 emissions could be eliminated.

Here are a few ideas to get you on the greener route:

Using a bike for transportation will keep you healthy and happy. Powered by breakfast rather than a $3 gallon of gas, you would be free from bumper-to-bumper traffic, stress and the loss of precious time. Makes sense to try it!

Share the ride – If you feel a twinge of guilt every time you drive solo, give your conscience and our planet a break by sharing your ride. The average commuter burns 340 gallons a year, creating a 3.4-ton cloud of CO2. Ride with one extra passenger and you’ll cut that figure in half.

Add more passengers and you’ll cut it down further. Nearly 10 percent of American workers carpool every week. Carpoolers can qualify for a myriad of incentives including driving in HOV lanes and discounts of up to 20 percent on insurance. Many employers are also offering sweet benefits like cash rewards, flexible work hours, free parking and more. 

For starters you can save on gas, maintenance costs, parking fees, parking tickets and possibly insurance premiums. You won’t have to worry as much about accidents, vehicle wear and tear. You won’t have to deal with tolls, traffic, bad drivers or parking. To top it all off, you can even catch up on reading or pass the time with a hobby during the ride.

For transit routes and schedules in your area: DART |  The-T | DCTA | TRE

Just do one green thing today—it will lead to many more.

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