Talking About Green

Whether you’re an advocate for keeping the planet green, or simply don’t like spending tons of money at the gas pump, there’s a good chance that you would like to save more money. With high gas prices, it is important that drivers do all they can to improve fuel economy on their own. Here are 3 tips to help you save some money driving this summer:

1. Keep your foot out of it- The most important thing you can do when you are trying to cut back on fuel, is to keep your foot out of it. When you accelerate, you want to do so in a smooth manner. You should also avoid rapid deceleration as well. If you know that you have to come to a stop, take your foot off the gas and come to a stop slowly. Another good idea is to try and get used to the timing of the lights in the areas that you drive. Most city street lights are timed perfectly so that you can go 45 mph’s the entire trip. Avoid frequent stops at lights can have a dramatic effect on your overall fuel consumption and can really help you to save money at the pump.
2. No AC and no windows- When it comes to saving gas one of the things that you can do is turn off the AC and make sure that the windows are rolled up. In certain vehicles, turning the AC on can reduce fuel efficiency by more than 10%. When you roll the windows down you are creating more drag and reducing the cars ability to cut through the wind. Another thing that you need to do is to check your tire pressure often (at least once a week) to make sure that they are at the correct pressure. Not only will you increase your fuel economy by keeping your tires inflated correctly, but you can also increase the life of your waters and reduce overall wear.
3. Hypermiling on road trips- When it comes to saving fuel on longer road trips one of the best things you can do is to practice hypermiling behind semi’s and other large trucks. Some studies show that you can increase your fuel economy significantly if you follow big trucks and stay within the draft that they create. Of course you want to maintain a safe distance, but chances are you can add a few miles to your fuel economy numbers just by being patient and staying behind a truck. Why not let them do all the work cutting through the air?

Driving in a fuel efficient way takes some dedication and getting used to. Even just one impatient blip of the throttle can throw off an entire morning’s worth of hard work saving gas.

Katie is a freelance writer for Regal Tool and Supply. Regal Tool believes in selling high quality, energy efficient tools.

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