Energy Conservation

Saving Energy on the Road

Get your motor running… more efficiently

When you think of ways to save energy on the road, you may immediately think of alternative-fuel cars. And while these vehicles, often called hybrids, are certainly helpful in the quest for cleaner energy in transportation, there are plenty of actions you can take to reduce the amount of fuel you use (no matter what kind of car you drive!). Having your car tuned regularly and keeping your tires properly inflated are two easy ways to save energy.

• Whenever possible, walk, bike, car pool, or use mass transit.
• Have your car tuned regularly.
• Keep your tires properly inflated.
• Slow down. The faster you drive, the more gasoline your car uses.
• Avoid abrupt starts. They use about twice as much gasoline as gradual starts.
• Pace your driving. Unnecessary speedups, slowdowns, and stops decrease fuel economy.
• If your car has an air conditioner, make sure its coolant is recovered and recycled whenever you have it serviced.
• Use your air conditioner sparingly.
• Avoid lengthy engine idling.
• Plan your trips in advance and try and combine short trips into one to do all your errands. Avoid traveling during rush hours to reduce high fuel-consumption patterns such as starting and stopping and numerous idling periods.
• When you buy a car, choose one that gets good mileage.