According to the
Sierra Club:
Increasing the fuel efficiency of automobiles is the biggest single step the United States can take to reduce consumption of fossil fuels and the threat of global warming.
If you drive your car, do you think your car gets the fuel economy that the dealer promised you? Probably not. The dealer didn't lie - they just measure fuel economy under very idealized conditions. So how can you get better gas mileage? Learn to mimic those idealized conditions :)
Below the fold you will find information that I've worked to put together for MONTHS (literally). It's part of an ongoing effort of mine - you can see the whole thing here. If you do own a car - take it and use it. If you don't - pass it along to some friends (or recommend it). And for all you online activists out there - I've included links to a few letter-writing campaigns at the bottom.
First, in case you're interested, here's the rest of what the Sierra Club has to say about it:
We have a tool to achieve this goal [i.e. reduce the threat of global warming] in the form of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. Raising CAFE standards to 45 miles per gallon (mpg) for cars and 34 mpg for light trucks (trucks, vans, and sport utility vehicles) is the biggest single step we can take to curb global warming.
CAFE is a fleet-wide average standard. It is currently set at 27.5 mpg for cars and 20.7 mpg for light trucks (the standards have been stagnant for almost a decade.) In any given model year it requires that the average for an automaker's entire fleet meet its goals. Manufacturers can still make vehicles that get less than the standards, as long as they balance them with more efficient vehicles.
In 1997 all three US automakers violated CAFE standards for light trucks. Rather than improve their products, the Big 3 have waged a lobbying offensive in Washington DC, and have successfully influenced members of Congress to pass one year freezes on the law. 1997 was the third year that such a freeze was passed.
Ford, Chrysler, and General Motor's conduct on CAFE standards is reprehensible. They are not only damaging the environment and increasing the risk of a dangerous global warming, their gas guzzlers are also worsening America's trade deficit and exporting more money from US consumers into the bank accounts of multi-national oil corporations.
The Big 3's gas guzzlers pose risks to our natural resources as well. The fuel efficiency of America's automobile fleet is plummeting, and as it drops pressure is building to create new supplies of oil to fill the demand. This pressure is threatening sensitive wilderness areas like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the new national monument in Utah with oil development.
If you read that, you know the obvious: a major solution to our "crisis" is to increase fuel economy standards, and there are many big business interests lobbying against that - instead putting the focus on ANWR.
The result? A confused but frustrated public. The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press reports:
80%: People who say "it's important for Americans now driving sport utility vehicles to switch to more fuel-efficient vehicles to reduce the nation's dependence on oil."
60%: People who said they are "not confident President Bush is taking the right approach to solving the nation's energy problems."
Almost 70%: People who want the government to establish price controls on gasoline and want more spending on subway, rail and bus systems.
Over 70%: People who want to give tax cuts to companies to develop wind, solar and hydrogen energy.
Over 80%: People who want higher fuel efficiency required for cars, trucks and SUVs - a little over 80%
...That was the good. Here's the bad:
52%: People who favor giving tax cuts to energy companies to explore for more oil
Almost six in 10 now say exploring for new sources of energy is more important than protecting the environment. People were evenly split on that question in 2002. Half now support drilling for oil and gas in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska -- up from 42 percent who felt that way in March. [I found this online back on 9/15/05]
Your average Joe is sick of paying for gas, isn't too bothered about peak oil or the environment, and isn't sure who to believe about how to get his or her gas prices to go down.
But Kossacks are not average Joes. You guys can handle a little bit of not-too-difficult work. Here is how to make your vehicle maximize its gas mileage:
Equipment
- Your vehicle's owner's manual
- A calendar (paper or electronic)
- A tire pressure gauge
- A calculator
- Some good walking shoes, a bike, rollerblades, public bus schedule, and/or a subway map
Each idea below represents a separate blog post from the past year. Most posts have comments - some more than others - with additional advice or experiences. So, don't be shy! Click the Add/read comments link and add your own ideas for all the world to benefit from
Step 1: Change a Few Habits
There are 2 parts to this step: driving less and driving in a more efficient manner.
- Driving Less
- Ride Your Bike Instead of Driving Add/read comments
Want to know a major difference between the US and China? In the US, a bike is a form of recreation; in China, it's a form of transportation. Can you imagine one billion Chinese each trying to get home in their own cars at rush hour? Neither can they.
Think about the places that you go. Could you bike there? Maybe you can't bike to work, but could you bike to coffeeshops, book stores, parks, and restaurants that are nearby? If you bring a backpack, could you ride a bike to do your shopping?
If you are involved in local politics, try to get your city to make bike trails and bike lanes.
If you are new to biking, I recommend clicking the add/read comments link above to get some advice from a experienced biker. Said experienced biker also recommended the following websites:
http://www.trekbikes.com/
http://www.performancebike.com/
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/...
http://www.cannondale.com/...
http://www.bicycletrader.com/
http://www.bikelane.com/
http://www.ibike.org/
- Carpool Add/read comments
You may have a ride board at your school or work where you can find carpools. Otherwise, check out Carpoolworld.com. The site will help you find a one-time carpool or a regular carpool anywhere in the world.
- Take Public Trans Add/read comments
If you cannot use public transportation for commuting, can you use it to go out drinking? Another time to use public transportation is when you go on vacation - maybe you don't need a rental car. You can find public trans in any city worldwide at this site. Some more links offered up by CJnyc are:
http://www.napta.net/
http://www.cfte.org/
http://www.ntdprogram.com/
http://www.reconnectingamerica.org/
- Driving in a more efficient manner
- Don't Be an Aggressive Driver Add/read comments
Accelerate slowly - stomping on the gas will kill your fuel efficiency quickly and easily. Also - remember that every time you step on the gas and then break, you are wasting gas. Several aggressive driving habits (such as accelerating and breaking to weave traffic lanes) are wasteful for this reason.
- Refuel Early in the Morning or Late in the Evening Add/read comments
According to the EPA:
When the weather is warm, try to refuel early in the morning or late in the evening. This will reduce the emount of evaporative emissions being pushed out of the tank during the heat of the day, when smog most easily forms. On Ozone Action Days, try not to refuel at all. And never top off your tank beyond the automatic shutoff point.
- Use Cruise Control Add/read comments
When you use cruise control, you stay at a steady speed without accelerating or breaking. For the reasons above, this will help you improve fuel economy.
- Combine Errands Into One Trip Add/read comments
Your car is 70% less efficient before the engine heats up. By running your errands together, you can do them all after the engine heats up once - instead of once per errand.
- Relax While Driving Add/read comments
"Relax while driving. Find a comfortable driving position; fidgeting in the seat leads to constant speed changes and decreases gas mileage." - iCARumba
- Park in the Shade Add/read comments
Park in the shade if you can, to keep your car cooler and lessen the pollution and waste that occurs when gasoline evaporates from the engine and gas tank.
An extra benefit - if your car is cooler when you get into it, you won't need to roll down the windows or use the air conditioning so much, and that will save some gas.
- Decrease Use Of Your Air Conditioning In Your Car (and roll up your windows) Add/read comments
Air conditioning uses gas - it can hurt your fuel economy by 2.5 mpg. Rolling down your windows (or opening your sunroof) increases drag, making your car less fuel efficient. If you can avoid doing both - great! Otherwise, follow this rule: If you are going less than 50 mph, choose windows. 50 mph and higher, go for the air conditioning.
- Drive Gently While Your Vehicle Warms Up Add/read comments
Don't let your vehicle sit while it warms up for more than maybe 30 seconds. Starting a car 10 minutes before you leave is not only bad for the longevity of the engine, but also for emissions. Cars take longer to warm up at an idle, fluids aren't flowing properly, and more hydrocarbons are burned when the car is idling. Hydrocarbons=pollution. Don't go overboard here, though, give the car 30 seconds or so after starting cold before you take off. Once you do get going, drive gently... driving off like a maniac while the engine's cold is no good either.
- Don't Leave the Car on While Parked Add/read comments
If you're going to park for more than a minute or two, turn off the engine.
I'm a major culprit of this when I drop a friend off and we're still sitting in their driveway finishing up a conversation. Another time is when running an errand with a friend or family member and only one person is going to run into the store - instead of leaving the car on and sitting there in the fire lane wasting gas, turn it off.
If you have a car newer than the 70s, chances are it's fuel-injected, which means that you don't use more gas starting the car up than by letting it run, which was often the case with the old carbureted engines.
- Skip the Drive Thru - Just Walk Into the Store Add/read comments
The whole time your car sits in the drive-thru line, you are using up gas. Not only that, but the longer the line is, the more adding your car to the line makes the other cars use gas. Next time, just park and go into the store.
Step 2: Maintain Your Stuff
Ok, grab your calendar and your vehicle's owner's manual, and take some tips from a mechanic.
- Monthly
- Check Your Tires' Air Pressure Add/read comments
According to iCARumba, "Under-inflated tires can cost as much as 1 mpg. Better mileage can be achieved by over-inflating the tires (never exceed the maximum inflation pressure on the side of the tire), but the tires will wear faster and the ride will be rougher."
Tires lose 1 psi (pound per square inch) per month or 10 degree temp drop in normal conditions. Grab that calendar, pick a day of the month to check your tire pressure, and write down a reminder to yourself on each month. Alternatively, you can go to TireSafety.com and sign up to receive monthly reminders to check your tires' air pressure.
Now for actually checking your tire pressure. You can do it yourself, or you can go to Jiffy Lube and they will do it for free. If you do it yourself, you need to get a tire gauge (they are cheap, and it's a good investment), and if you go to Jiffy Lube, you risk being hit on (if you are female).
To get started, look for the manufacturer's recommended air pressure on the sticker of your vehicle's door jamb or owner's manual. Then follow these easy steps.
- Remove tire valve cap
- Place the end of the tire gauge over valve
- Press the tire gauge straight and firmly until the scale extends
- If needed, add air (available at gas stations) and recheck pressure with the tire gauge
- Replace valve caps
| |
Information here was gleaned from TireSafety.com. Extra info is available at Road Safety.
- Check Your Oil Add/read comments
It's best to check your oil at least once a month. If it's black and sludgy, time to change it! DIY has a video about how to check your oil that you can watch online if you do not know how.
- Seasonally
- Remove Your Car's Roof Rack when not in use Add/read comments
Even empty racks increase aerodynamic drag and boost fuel consumption. If the racks are permanent, factory-installed units, the extra fuel cost will be minimal.
While you are attempting to reduce drag (and thus fuel efficiency) on your car, keep in mind that wings, some spoilers, body kits, and tires wider than stock size (what originally comes on the car) increase drag too.
- Every 5,000-7,500mi (See your owner's manual)
- Change Your Oil and Oil Filter Add/read comments
| Places like Jiffy Lube want you to change your oil as much as possible so they can profit. Look in your owner's manual to find out how often you should really have it changed. The folks who wrote your owner's manual have to pay for repairs under your warranty, so they will definitely recommend correct maintenance intervals because they don't want your car to break.
Whenever you change your oil, you should also change your oil filter. You should also recycle your oil. If you change your oil yourself, you can take the oil to a nearby oil change place to have it recycled. If you take your car to an oil change place to have it done, make sure they are recycling the oil. |
- Every 15,000-30,000mi (See your owner's manual)
- Change Your Air Filter Add/read comments
"Replace the air filter regularly. A dirty air filter enriches the air/fuel mixture and can increase fuel consumption as much as 10%. Tests show one third of all vehicles have air filters in need of replacement." -
iCARumba
| How do you know when it's time for a change? Check your owner's manual. I've seen recommendations online to change your air filter at 12,000 (and more frequently if it's sandy or dusty near you) but mine says to do this at 30,000mi. Especially if you live in a dusty environment, check your air filter every 6,000mi and vacuum it off a bit to get some extra use out of it. |
- Every 30,000mi (See your owner's manual)
- Change Your Spark Plugs Regularly Add/read comments
Replace spark plugs at regularly scheduled intervals. New plugs alone can increase fuel economy by 3%. Be sure the plugs are the correct type and properly gapped.
DIY has a page on how to change your spark plugs. They recommend every 2 years or 30,000 miles but they say some vehicles can go up to 100,000 before a change. My guess? This is another mystery that can be solved by your Owner's Manual. | |
- Every 60,000mi (See your owner's manual)
Step 3: Buy Some Stuff
Step 4: Help Others Conserve Too
- Be a Pedestrian- and Biker-Friendly Driver Add/read comments
I can't always bike or walk to where I'm going, but people who live downtown in my city often do. One way to promote biking and walking is to be a respectful driver. Keep an eye out for people who are biking or walking, and if it is safe to do so, yield so they can cross the street. The people of your city will be more likely to bike or walk if they aren't afraid of getting hit by a car in the process.
Step 5: Think About Some Big Purchases or Changes
- Buy a Green Car (or at least a less mean one) Add/read comments
Is it time to trade in the SUV for something a little bit less gas-hungry? Start by taking a look at FuelEconomy.gov. Then, check out the EPA's handy online tool for finding a fuel efficient car (the tool at the link seems to be broken, but you can just download the entire list into Excel and start searching and sorting there). Here are a few good ideas for you:2006 Car | City MPG | Highway MPG |
HONDA Insight - Manual | 60 | 66 |
TOYOTA Prius | 60 | 51 |
HONDA Insight - Auto | 57 | 56 |
HONDA Civic Hybrid | 49 | 51 |
VOLKSWAGEN Golf - Manual, Diesel | 37 | 44 |
VOLKSWAGEN New Beetle - Manual, Diesel | 37 | 44 |
VOLKSWAGEN Jetta - Manual, Diesel | 36 | 41 |
VOLKSWAGEN Jetta - Auto, Diesel | 35 | 42 |
VOLKSWAGEN New Beetle - Auto, Diesel | 35 | 42 |
VOLKSWAGEN Golf - Auto, Diesel | 33 | 44 |
TOYOTA Corolla - Manual | 32 | 41 |
TOYOTA Scion XA - Auto | 31 | 38 |
TOYOTA Scion XA - Auto | 32 | 37 |
FORD Escape Hybrid - Auto | 36 | 31 |
HONDA Civic - Auto | 30 | 40 |
TOYOTA Corolla - Auto | 30 | 38 |
HONDA Civic - Manual | 30 | 38 |
Looking to go used? Use The Fuel Economy Guide for model years 1985 through 2005
If you choose a hybrid, see if you are eligible for tax incentives.
- Pay As You Drive Auto Insurance Add/read comments
Pay as you drive auto insurance gives everyone an incentive to drive less. And if you already do drive less - voila! - you can pay less. PAYD is not very widespread as of yet, so if this sounds like something you'd be interested in, email auto insurance companies to request this. Several places have initiatives to start PAYD programs, including Oregon, Texas, Washington, Pennsylvania, and the EPA.
Of course, if you can't find a Pay-As-You-Drive program that suits you, there's always Progressive insurance (not just a clever pun - click the link for Buy Blue's info). I switched to Progressive and I'm saving $200 every 6 mos.
- Buy a Car That Takes Diesel and/or Biodiesel Add/read comments
If you are thinking about a new car, think about a car that takes diesel. A VW Jetta that takes diesel gets 35 mpg city and 42 mpg highway. You not only gain the ability to use biodiesel, but you also gain fuel economy by choosing diesel.
Here is some information about biodiesel from Biodiesel.org:
What is biodiesel?
Biodiesel is the name of a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable resources. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. It can be used in compression-ignition (diesel) engines with little or no modifications. Biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics.
How is biodiesel made?
Biodiesel is made through a chemical process called transesterification whereby the glycerin is separated from the fat or vegetable oil. The process leaves behind two products -- methyl esters (the chemical name for biodiesel) and glycerin (a valuable byproduct usually sold to be used in soaps and other products).
Why should I use biodiesel?
Biodiesel is better for the environment because it is made from renewable resources and has lower emissions compared to petroleum diesel. It is less toxic than table salt and biodegrades as fast as sugar. Since it is made in the USA from renewable resources such as soybeans, its use decreases our dependence on foreign oil and contributes to our own economy.
Where do I get biodiesel?
Biodiesel is available nationwide. It can be purchased directly from biodiesel producers and marketers, petroleum distributors, or at a handful of public pumps throughout the nation.
You can find more information from Biodiesel.org's fact sheets. If you are looking for where you can buy biodiesel, check this map of the US (click the link to go to an interactive version of the same map, so you can actually see where to find biodiesel near you).
If your car doesn't take diesel, don't give up hope - Australians have started filling up with "biounleaded."
- Mix Up Your Transportation Cocktail Add/read comments
Time to use that calculator! What does it cost you to own a car? Don't forget to include interest, depreciation, maintenance, and gas.
A Montreal website says that it may be cheaper to sell your car and only use one when you need one - even if you have to spend big bucks on car sharing, car rentals, and taxis.
What makes up a Transportation Cocktail?
- Car rentals
- Car sharing
- Public transportation and taxis
- Inter-city transportation
- Walking, cycling, rollerblading
- Delivery services
If you've read through all of this and you want more info, here is a great site that I got a bunch of information from.
Online Activism
Fun Song Parody! (and email campaign about global warming): The Climate Mash
Petition: Tell Automakers Why You Want Green Cars Today
Email Congress: Raise Fuel Economy Standards!
Email Congress: Protect and grow the national transit program
Email Exxon-Mobil: Stop Spreading Disinformation about Global Warming
Email Congress: Protect Roadless Areas - Oregon residents
Email Auto Makers: Tell the auto industry to innovate, not litigate
Lots of action! Exxpose Exxon
Want more? Email rental car companies and ask them to purchase hybrids and diesel cars. Their customers will thank them! Use these sites:
Avis Feedback Form
Hertz Feedback Form
Enterprise Feedback Form
Dollar Feedback Form
Alamo Email
Budget Feedback Form
National Feedback Form (click Contacts, then Customer Service)
Any other ideas? Add them in the comments! Again - if you're into this sort of thing, not just about cars but about anything, check out my website - or if you're on LiveJournal, join my community and start contributing your own ideas!
Update: If this doesn't sound like it's enough (and I agree, it isn't), then read what Jerome has to say about energy policy