Going Green - On The Road

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. - Remember $4.00/gallon gas? It'll return! But why wait till then? Start saving energy in your vehicles right now. Not only does it save you money, but it also cuts the harmful emissions entering the atmosphere. What's not to love?

Here are some simple tips.

Lose the lead foot. Driving over the speed limit, along with jack-rabbit starts and tire-screaching stops, waste more fuel than the time you're trying to save.

Avoid idling your engine for more than 30 seconds. How long did you wait in the drive-thru line this morning? Park it and walk in next time.

Organize your trips. Ten minutes of thought before your Saturday morning errands could save several miles...and a few bucks!

Maintain your vehicle. Regular tune-ups and maintenance help improve mileage and performance. Plus, that 'check engine light' really means something.

Keep your tires properly inflated.

Cut down on use of your car's air conditioning system. Hard to do on some days, but your wallet will thank you.

On the highway, consider cruise control. It's not a certainty, but in most cases using cruise control will increase your mileage.

Check your trunk. What's in there that you don't need to haul everywhere you go? Less weight in the car means more mileage.

Cut down on the drag. Lose the luggage or bike rack.

Fill gas tank during cooler evening hours.  It cuts down on evaporation. Don't "top off" the tank and replace the gas tank cap tightly.

Drive a 'greener' car. Maybe one of the cars in your garage is a lot 'greener' than another, find out at  http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/Index.do.

When all else fails, buy a car with better mileage. You can find and compare models at www.fueleconomy.gov.