Filed under: Cars and Transportation

One of the things I love about living in a city is that I have lots of car-free ways to get around. I have access to a pretty good public transportation system. I can walk to the grocery store, gym and post office. In theory, if I had a bike and nerves of steel, I could navigate the city via its many bike lanes.

But let's be real: our society is set up for cars, and sometimes you need to drive. Sometimes it even helps you be greener, like when you carpool, or need to haul home something you bought in bulk.

Don't stress out about using your car, just drive smart. Here are five easy ways to make your commute more fuel efficient and eco-friendly:
1. Buy the most fuel-efficient car for the kind of driving you do
Practically every automaker offers a hybrid these days. I drive a Prius, and it works great for my lifestyle, which involves a lot of stop-and-go city driving. However, if you have a long highway commute, chances are that a newer model of a traditional internal combustion engine car could get you better gas mileage. Soon it will be easy to access cars that use even more types of fuel, like clean diesel and plug-in electric vehicles. Take the time to weigh all the options so you can choose the one that matches the type of traveling you do.

2. Get a tune up
In this tight economy, many people are putting off big purchases, like a new and super-fuel efficient car. The next best thing is to make sure the car you're driving is working as well as possible, so schedule regular tune ups. Remember to change air filters, and make sure you don't have any leaks!

3. Check your tires
Did you know that you can improve your gas mileage by more than 3% just by making your tires are correctly inflated? It's hassle, but it's worth it!

4. Slow down
Driving faster really does burn gas more quickly. Stick to the speed limit, and you'll make fewer visits to the gas station. Also, a lead foot equals gas guzzler, whether you're revving the engine to take off from a stop sign, or slamming on the brakes.

5. It's better to enjoy the breeze, not the A.C. -- sometimes!
It's hard to imagine in the middle of a freezing cold winter, but in a few months temperatures will rise again. For many of us, that means reflexively switching on the air conditioning the minute you get in the car. On the one hand, A.C. uses a ton of fuel. On the other hand, open windows can increase drag, and wind up gobbling gas, too. In other words, the decision to use A.C. or not depends on the kind of driving you're doing. If you're running errands, with lots of stop and go, try rolling down the windows and getting a cross breeze going. But if you're doing to be on the highway, it actually is better to use your A.C.

These are just a start. Check out the video above for 30 ways to save on gas!

5 Ways to Drive Greener originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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