Living : Transportation :

Got what it takes to survive on the streets?

10.13.2008

Submitted by tmeronek on Mon, 10/13/2008 - 12:01am.
The Bite:
With the cost of gas these days, maybe not. Increase your road IQ by checking our top five tips for getting better miles-per-gallon (and thus, fewer emissions), whether or not you're cruisin' in a Smart Car.
The Benefits: 
  • Shrewd savings. Since gas goes for nearly $4/gallon, conservation is key.
  • Emissions intelligence. Each year, your car emits more CO2 than your appliances, A/C, and trash output combined, so getting brainy about your fuel efficiency can really help lower pollution.
Personally Speaking: 
Jen likes to try upping her mpg by seeing how far she can coast after coming down hills, and thanks to her biodiesel-running VW Jetta's dashboard mpg calculator, she can instantly tell how much gas she's saving.
Wanna Try: 
  1. Don't Idle - idling more than ten seconds takes more gas than turning your car off and starting it up again; 15 minutes of idling per weekday can cost you up to $100 per year. It also creates twice the emissions of a car in motion.
  2. Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated - improves mileage by about 3% and saves up to seven cents per gallon.
  3. Change Your Air Filter - increases your mileage-gas savings by up to 10%.
  4. Drive Slower - every 10 MPH higher you go over 60 costs you 4 mpg.
  5. Know Where You're Going - needless driving obviously wastes gas and time. (Yeah you...quit cruisin' the strip.)

 

Cocktail Fact

According to the EPA's 2008 ratings, the Lamborghini Murcielago is the least efficient auto in America, getting an average of less than 11 mpg.

Bang For The Bite

If 10,000 Biters increase their mileage by just 2 mpg, in a year the decrease in CO2 will equal taking a fleet of 655 diesel school buses off the road for a year.

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