Green Car Tips

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) transportation is responsible for a third of carbon-dioxide emissions in the United States, and 60 percent of that comes from private vehicles. And with the rising costs of gasoline, hopefully we find more efficient-rides really soon. Until then, here are some healthy driving habits you might want to start practicing:

• Probably the best way to reduce your carbon footprint is to limit your driving time. Carpool, take the public transport or plan errands geographically.
• Make your car more fuel-efficient by getting a tune-up. Clogged air-filters, grimy spark plugs, worn-out belts and fans, plus a history of neglected oil changes can cost you more than 165 gallons of gas a year.
• Keep your tires pumped to the recommended pounds per square inch (psi). According to the advocacy group Environment Defense Fund, this practice can save you an entire tank in a year. The EPA and the Department of Energy say that traveling light and freeing your trunk of unimportant items can also help boost the fuel economy.
• Erratic driving (which includes jackrabbit starts, quick braking and even speeding) can reduce gas mileage by as much as 33 percent.
• Stay within the limit when driving on highways. Use cruise control to keep from slowing down and speeding up.
• Avoid idling and turn off the engine whenever you can.
• Cutting air conditioning use also helps increase fuel efficiency by 2.2 percent.

If you are in the market to buy a used car –

• Improve the fuel economy by buying “the highest-fuel-economy car or truck that meets your needs," says David Friedman, research director for the Clean Vehicles Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. Most Americans opt for used gas- or diesel run cars. But there are now some used hybrids out in the market.
• Friedman recommends getting the type of automobile that you need on a daily basis, instead of choosing a big truck or SUV that you may need only once or twice a year. Unless you haul heavy big objects regularly, it is best to rent a big rig when you need one.
• Check out mileage estimates for vehicles between 1985 and 2008 at fueleconomy.gov

If you are looking to purchase a new car –
• You are in a better position to decrease your carbon foot print. New cars are evaluated by the EPA for their emission levels and fuel economy and are given a SmartWay grade.
• Hybrids, which run on both electric motors and gas engines, most likely get the best fuel economy (up to 45 miles per gallon) and produce the lowest tailpipe emissions.
• Car manufacturers have made huge efforts to lower our carbon footprint. Check out the new Mercedes E320 Bluetec sedan. It uses an exhaust-treatment system the removes most nitrogen-oxide emissions. Volksvagen has also released a similar diesel recently; while Audi, BMW, Honda, and Nissan are develop comparable cars.
• Low emission-diesels have made their way to the United States. Diesels usually get excellent mileage (up to 40 percent better than conventional gas engines) and can be converted to biodiesel – a renewable fuel made of plant oils and animal fats, and blended with petroleum-based diesel.

By: Red Smith

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

To learn more about sustainability and sustainability solutions, visit www.goodearthproducts.net.