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By now, we’ve all heard about global climate change and the urgency there is to do more to protect the environment. One of the items at the top of the list when it comes to helping the environment is cutting down on driving and using alternative forms of transportation when possible. Unfortunately, not driving is not an option for some people. For those people, here are five ways that regular drivers can still cut down on their use of fossil fuels.
- Pack Light
How much weight is inside your car can have a big impact on how much gas you use. This doesn’t mean you should kick people out of the carpool; that’s still a great thing to do to curb gas consumption. But try to pack light when you go on trips, taking only what you need. You also don’t want to drive around with something heavy in the trunk because you keep forgetting to take it out; that too will hurt your fuel efficiency. Carrying as little luggage as possible is always going to be best for the environment and your bank account.
- Slow Down
You’re not always in a hurry, right? Unless you’re rushing to get to the office on time, starting to drive a little slower can help you cut down on air resistance and start improving your fuel efficiency. The best way to avoid wasting gas is cut down on instances of sudden acceleration or deceleration. This means you shouldn’t be tailgating someone and then slamming on the brakes any more than you should be going from 0 to 60 as fast as you possible can. Keeping a steady pace, and using cruise control whenever possible, will be best for the environment and also keep your passengers from getting carsick.
- Check Your Tires
You probably forget all about your tires until you get a message on your dashboard that one of them is running low. You can get by doing this, but in order to have the best fuel efficiency possible, you need to be checking your tire pressure every week or two. If you keep tires at their optimal pressure, your fuel efficiency will improve. It may also be wise to get your tires aligned a couple times a year, because misaligned tires can cause your car to drag and waste fuel.
- Regular Maintenance
There are so many things that can throw off your car’s fuel efficiency that you must keep up with your car’s maintenance or risk wasting both gas and money. Getting the car checked out on a regular basis will make it safer to drive, give you more piece of mind while driving, and will lower the greenhouse gases being emitted from the vehicle. Using the right kind of oil is also essential to helping your car run properly and be as efficient as possible with regard to the amount of fuel it consumes.
- Get an Electric Car
As a driver, the best thing you can do for the environment is get behind the wheel of an electric car. There are so many electric models available nowadays that if you do some research you are bound to find one that is a perfect fit for you. In some cases, there may be rebates or tax benefits of buying an electric car that can make it worthwhile for you financially in the long run. On top of that, you’ll be able to save money on gas and make the environment a much better place at the same time.