Go easy on the environment and your wallet
We live in an era where “thinking green” is the most fashionable political statement and conservation is the name of the game.
One of the most effective ways to decrease your carbon footprint is to drive less, and when you do, drive smart. You can save the world and your budget simultaneously.
Here are a few tips on saving gas from The Environmental Protection Agency andTerrapass.com
1. Check your tire pressure regularly.
2. Take your ski rack off when you’re not using it. It increases the weight, therefore increasing the amount of gas your car needs to accelerate.
3. Don’t accelerate quickly and don’t speed. Drive defensively, not aggressively.
4. Replace your air filter annually. You will get 10% more mileage for your money.
5. Use cruise control on the highway.
6. Don’t leave your car idling. Turn it off if you are not driving.
7. Carry less junk in your trunk — it only adds weight and wastes gas.
8. Only use air conditioning when necessary. Roll down a window instead.
9. If you have a manual transmission, shift at a lower speed. the lower the speed, the better the fuel economy.
10. Get regular car maintenance check-ups. Dragging brakes and low transmission fluid can decrease fuel economy.
Above all, try out a hybrid or get up and walk more.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Sarah Stern at sterns@colorado.edu
