Sustainable Solutions for Getting Around Town: Alternative Transportation and Improving Fuel Efficiency

 

Additional solutions can be found at Sustainable Solutions for Transportation.

 

Alternative Transportation

• Choose a home within walking or biking distance of work and stores whenever possible.
• Take the 2 Mile Challenge! In general, ride your bicycle or walk to stores and/or work whenever possible. Build these activities into your exercise routine.
• Take public transportation whenever possible. If you don't have a current public transit schedule for your area, call and get one today so that you are more likely to use it in the future. Let your transit service know if you would like them to add new routes.
• Join a car pool. If your company doesn't coordinate car pooling, ask them to consider it or coordinate it yourself. If possible, coordinate car pooling with nearby businesses.
• Find out if car sharing will work for you. Find a car sharing organization near you.

Improving Fuel Efficiency

• If you buy a new car, purchase a fuel efficient and low emission vehicle. Information sources:
  • EPA's Green Vehicle Guide
  • Green Book -- Highlights of the Model Year
  • Fuel Economy Guide - Department of Energy
  • Drive Clean - Zero and Near-Zero Emissoin Vehicle Guide
  • Yahoo's Auto Green Center
  • Hybrid Center
• Edmunds.com tested out popular gas-saving tips and found the most effective:
  • Slow down acceleration time (accelerate 0 to 60 mph in 15 seconds). Average improvement in fuel economy: 31% (highest: 37%)
  • Drive the speed limit. Average savings: 12% (highest: 14%)
  • Use cruise control (unless driving in a mountainous area). Average savings: 7% (highest: 14%)
  • Shut down car if idling for more than 1 minute. Savings up to 14%
  • Keep tires inflated to recommended levels. Savings varied.
  • Turning off A/C and opening sunroof. Minimal savings, but could vary by vehicle. (Note: they found no difference if the A/C was turned off and the windows were rolled down because of the increased drag on the car).
• Refuel your vehicle during the evening hours to reduce the amount of pollution created.
• Combine errands and plan out the shortest route possible. The heaviest car emissions occur during the first two miles that a car is driven (while the engine is still cold). Whenever possible, walk or ride your bike.
• If buying a car, only purchase optional equipment if needed (especially heavy equipment that can lower fuel efficiency). Avoid the real gas guzzlers: automatic transmissions, larger, more powerful engines, power steering, air conditioning, and 4-wheel drive.
• Keep your tires inflated at the maximum recommended pressure(check once a month) and properly aligned (get your alignment checked every 5,000 miles)
• Purchase long-lasting, fuel-efficient Radial tires (vs. Bias or Belted tires)
• Keep up on your car maintenance, especially ignition timing, spark plugs and wiring, and idle speed setting (a poorly tuned car can loose up to 20% fuel efficiency)
• Watch your gas mileage for problems. Compare gas mileage for different brands of gasoline - some may give you better mileage.
• If you own more than one vehicle, try to use the one with the best gas mileage.
• Minimize use of your air conditioner (but only if you can leave the windows up) and improve your fuel efficiency
• Drive the speed limit - you can save 15-20% by driving 65 instead of 75. Optimum MPG are found at 35-45 MPH.
• Don't buy a higher octane gasoline than your engine needs (producing higher-octane fuels uses more crude oil than the lower octane gasolines, and may often involve use of toxic substances, which means the environment suffers). Consult your owner's manual for the right grade to use.
• Avoid quick starts and stops. In general, drive as smoothly as possible.
• Use cruise control to maintain a steady speed when possible.
• Keep windows shut at high speeds.
• Don't start your car until you are ready to drive off.
• If you drive a car with a manual transmission, upshift at the lowest speed possible to reduce fuel consumption.
• Use multi-grade, energy conserving (EC) motor oil to improve fuel efficiency 1-2% or buy re-refined oil to support recycling of oil. Purchase the lowest viscosity oil (i.e., "10 W 40") recommended by your car's owners manual. Check your vehicle's user manual to determine how often to change your oil (mechanics recommend every 3,000 miles, but many cars today can go longer without affecting engine wear). Recycle your used motor oil and oil filters at an approved collection center and sop up any spills with super-absorbent towels or kitty litter.
• Have your air conditioner serviced by a trained mechanic with access to a "vampire" machine, which recycles freon. These machines drain the coolant, purify it, and reinject it into the air conditioner. Fix leaks.
• Use antifreeze which does not contain ethylene glycol
• Avoid idling your car for more than 30 seconds.
• Avoid carrying unnecessary, heavy items around in your car. On trips, avoid using roof-racks, car-top packs or towing a trailer if at all possible.
• Use the overdrive feature if available
• Keep the air and fuel filters clean.