If you can't afford to buy a new fuel-efficient car in the next few years, consider selling (or junking!) your gas guzzler and buying a smaller, efficient used car. Besides saving money on gas, oil, tires, parts, and repairs, you can help reduce greenhouse gases.
No matter what type of car you drive, be sure to operate it efficiently:
- Keep the car tuned up, and keep the tires fully inflated.
- Carpool to work, or ride the bus.
- Avoid jackrabbit starts. Try to cruise at a steady speed. When driving in the city, anticipate red lights and take your foot off the gas and coast up to an intersection.
- When shopping, call ahead and make sure the store has what you want - don't waste a trip. Combine several errands and plan the shortest route.
- Walk or ride your bike for short errands in the neighborhood.
- NEVER let your car idle for more than 60 seconds. Why waste gas and pollute the air needlessly? Unless it is extremely cold, a 10 to 15 second warmup is all that is needed to build safe oil pressure. In New York City you can get a ticket for letting your car idle for more than 3 minutes!
- Auto air conditioners use a lot of energy that reduces gas mileage, and they are this country's largest single source of ozone destroying CFCs. If you don't really need your car's air conditioner, consider taking it to a dealer that recycles CFCs, and have the CFCs removed and then disconnect the compressor. Otherwise, keep your air conditioner fittings tight and in good repair and only run the unit when it is really needed.
- Park and walk - don't use 'drive thru' lanes at the bank or hamburger stand. ***
