If you made a trip to the gas station in the last two or three weeks, you probably noticed that gas is getting cheaper. Gas prices are the lowest they’ve been in nearly seven years. While it’s great a sight to see those gas station attendants whip out their telescoping poles and ladders, don’t look at cheaper gas prices as an opportunity to drive more. Look at it as a way to save some extra money for the holidays by practicing green driving habits.
There are many ways to reduce the amount of driving that you do, which will not only help save you money at the pump, but also help cut greenhouse gas emissions. Maybe you already drive an eco-friendly vehicle like the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, but you can still help lower the amount of emissions that you produce. Here are some tips for greener driving.
- When running errands, plan your route out to be the most efficient. Instead of driving back and forth across town, crisscrossing and backtracking, try and hit all of your stops in a loop. Also, avoid frequent quick trips. Engines runs more efficiently when warm, so try and coordinate your errands to make one long trip.
- If you live in the middle of town, walk or bike instead of driving. This is great for your wallet, the environment, and for your health too!
- Offer to pick up friends or have them pick you up if you’re going to the same place. Why have four cars drive to the same place when you can all arrive in one?
- Don't leave your car running. Sure, it’s nice to hop into a toasty car on a cold winter morning, but it wastes gas, wears on your engines, and produces unnecessary pollution. Idling can drain up to half a gallon of gas in an hour
- Refrain from hot rodding around - no aggressive starts or sudden stops. Smooth consistent driving is much for economical. Plus, you’re not really impressing anybody by burning rubber…
- Slow down your driving. At around 50 mph, fuel economy starts to drop. The slower you go, the better it is for your gas tank.
- Avoid extra weight in your car. An extra 100 pounds can decrease fuel economy by 1%. That doesn’t seem like much, but it can add up, especially if you’re just hauling around junk.
- Use cruise control. It keeps your speed constant and your fuel economy more efficient
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