EcoLocalizer

Our cars are among the biggest contributors to our personal carbon footprints. Alright, so not everyone can afford a hybrid or an electric car. With the economy how it is, you might have a tough time getting a car loan, even if you were ready to ditch your current vehicle for one that gets better gas mileage. So how can you lower the carbon footprint of the car that’s sitting int your driveway? There are still lots of ways that you can reduce the impact of the car you own now.

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1. Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Underinflated tires can reduce your car’s fuel economy by up to 5%. Your car’s owner’s manual should tell you the correct tire pressure you need. Be careful not to over inflate, because that can make your tires more susceptible to damage from debris or potholes.
2. Get the junk out of your trunk! This one is a no-brainer. It takes more fuel to move something that’s heavier. Every 100 pounds of extra cargo in your vehicle lowers its fuel economy by 2%.
3. Check you air filter. A clogged air filter can cost you up to a 15% loss of fuel economy. Check your air filter every 12,000 miles to see if it needs replacing or cleaning.
4. Coast down hills. Some hypermilers actually shift their cars into neutral when using this technique. This practice is illegal and pretty unsafe. Just letting your foot off of the gas and allowing gravity to do its thing can save you fuel, though!
5. Go the speed limit. As speed increases, gas economy decreases. It’s that simple.
6. Don’t let your car idle. Your car still uses fuel while you’re idling. The thing is, starting the car takes gas too. If you’re going to idle for over a minute, you’ll save fuel by shutting off the engine. Whether in a parking space waiting to pick someone up or in the fast food line, needless idling wastes gas. There is some controversy about whether this is a safe thing to do at stop lights. What do you guys think?
7. Check your spark plugs. According to Vito Rispo over at Ridelust, “Putting in a new set can do wonders for a car; they can increase mileage, drastically cut down emissions, and just keep the car running more smoothly.” You should change your spark plugs about every 50,000 miles.
8. Cool that road rage. Aggressive driving uses more fuel. Don’t floor the gas or slam on the breaks, and you’ll see tremendous fuel savings!
9. Combine errands. Your car uses more fuel while it’s warming up the engine. By running errands all in one go, you can greatly increase your fuel economy.
10. Drive less. I know, this one is tough, but it’s totally doable. Adding even a few trips per week by bike or on foot can save you lots of gas! On top of being more environmentally sound, this tip is good for your health and your waistline, too!

[Pumping gas. Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Rama.]

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