How do I reduce the carbon footprint of my road trips?

by Susan Dieker, Green Irene Eco-Consultant
reprinted from Green Irene LLC’s Ask Green Irene Series

Whether you’re planning your road trip for business or pleasure, one thing’s certain—you don’t want your travel dollars getting siphoned away unnecessarily while your car pumps greenhouse gases into the atmosphere! How do you keep your car running lean and clean? Even if you drive a clunker, you can improve its performance by following a few simple steps from the research team at Green Irene.

Take Care of Your Car

Naturally, a well-maintained car will perform most efficiently. For the best fuel economy, stay up to date on basic maintenance tasks. First and foremost, don’t postpone tune-ups. Following the manufacturer’s schedule for tune-ups will increase your fuel efficiency by 6%, and keep roughly 580 pounds of greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere each year.

Remember to clean or replace your air filter. Most manufacturers advise replacing your air filter every 15,000 miles. Even after 5,000 miles, however, the filter gets clogged enough to reduce your car’s fuel efficiency by up to 7%. It’s easy to prevent this—every time you wash your car, lift the hood and vacuum the filter. And don’t forget to check your tire pressure. Proper inflation improves gas mileage by 3% in a well-maintained car. Keep a tire gauge handy, especially in cool weather—your tires lose pressure with every 10-degree temperature drop.

Take Tips from Truckers

You can continue to save gas on the road by taking tips from the pros. Get off on the right foot by packing light. Empty your trunk and your backseat of everything except the essentials for your trip, and you’ll gain 2% in fuel efficiency for every 100 pounds you jettison.

And slow down! Driving over 55 isn’t just dangerous—for every 10 mph you add, you lose 5 miles per gallon and add 1,500 pounds of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Setting cruise control keeps you steady at 55 and yields roughly 100 extra miles to the tank.

You should always avoid idling. Every two minutes of idling uses enough gas to travel about a mile…without getting anywhere! Just ten seconds of idling uses more fuel—and produces more emissions—than turning off and restarting the engine.  And keep your car (and your passengers) cool. Above 40 mph, using your A/C will reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency. Below 40, however, you’ll do better by opening the windows.

Stay cool by parking in the shade and using sunshades.

Take Your Habits Home

Your conservation efforts don’t have to end when you pull into your driveway at the end of your trip. On average, a traditional car wash can waste 110-120 gallons of water. Keep your clothes dry and your environment protected by using a non-toxic, waterless car wash system that you simply spray on and wipe off with a washable cloth. This innovative way of washing your car cleans just as effectively without the environmental impact.

When you’ve done everything you can to improve your car’s efficiency, you can help neutralize its impact for one year by purchasing carbon offsets based on your mileage. This counteracts your greenhouse gas emissions by helping to fund clean energy projects throughout the country.

While we depend heavily on our cars to get us around, there are ways to get around some of the negative contributions our cars make to the environment. Keep the tips above in mind, and you’ll be kinder to the earth the next time you get behind the wheel.

Green Irene consultants help communities implement green solutions to achieve healthier, safer, and more sustainable lifestyles. Visit www.greenirene.com/SusanNewburyportArea for more information.

 

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