The Skinny >>

Living life in the fast lane? Perhaps it’s time you put on the brakes to pause and consider this from BBC News: in the United States, carbon emissions from transportation (e.g. automobiles) account for about 26% of the national total. For every gallon of gasoline your car uses, about 19 pounds of carbon dioxide are burned and released into the atmosphere, according to an article on The Daily Green.

While we strongly encourage you to leave the car at home and take advantage of alternative modes of transportation, we’re here to recommend some tips to increase your fuel efficiency, save you money and get your car in top green shape in case, like me, you’ve got one parked in your driveway.

Work It >>

• Stop idling. Idling emits about twenty times more pollution than a car traveling at 32 miles per hour, according to Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen of The Green Book.  Next time you find yourself waiting in the car, shut off the engine and roll down the windows. I’ve found it is the perfect time to practice my meditation.

• Slow down there, speedster. Rapid acceleration and braking can decrease fuel economy by 33%.

• Instead of washing your car at home, take it to the car wash. Commercial car washes use about 100 fewer gallons of water than washing your car by hand (The Green Book). In addition, they often recycle and reuse their water. Water used is required to be drained into the sewer so it can be treated properly. Before heading out, however, find out if your local car wash is as squeaky clean as they claim your car will be, by making sure it complies with environmental, labor, health and safety laws.

• If you can’t bear not to wash it yourself, opt for Waterless Car Wash Products.

• Make sure your tires are properly inflated to improve your gas mileage by more than 3%.

• If your car doesn’t require the use of high octane gasoline (i.e. “premium” with a 92 or 93 rating at the pump), don’t use it. Not only is high octane more expensive, it requires the use of many “toxic substances” to create it, which are then released into the environment. To find out the type of gasoline your car requires, check your owner’s manual.

• Ride with an amigo and help save up to 500 gallons of gasoline and 550 pounds of poisonous exhaust emissions every year (The Green Book). Commuters sharing a ride to work would be the equivalent of taking 67.5 million cars off the road

Earn Your Stripes >>

Consider converting…from a diesel engine to one that runs on cooking oil!  Not looking to convert? Go Car Free. Take part in Car Free Fridays, which occur on the last Friday of every month and save gas while reducing the amount of carbon dioxide you’re producing. Who knows, you just might decide to ditch the car for good!

Image via Rojo

Related Content >>

• Fill up at greener gas stations, such as BP’s Helios House, where we hosted our Earth Day Awareness celebration last year.
• Learn about Alternative Fuels, such as ethanol, hydrogen and biodiesel to find out if they can be used in your vehicle. Click to find an alternative fueling station near you.
• Narrow Streets For L.A.?
• C.I.C.L.E. Bicycle Safety: Be Green, Be Safe and Avoid Riding Your Bicycle Into Oncoming Traffic
• Show the Earth Some Love This V-Day

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