Energy saving isn’t just for your home. With a few simple changes to your driving habits, you can actually save some money on the road too. Although gas prices are lower than last year, it never hurts to save a little at the pump!
- Don’t drive aggressively. Speeding, accelerating rapidly and frequent braking can significantly decrease your gas mileage. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, aggressive driving lowers your gas mileage by up to 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent in the city.
- Use cruise control. Cruise control can help you maintain a constant speed, which typically saves gas. The only exception is when you’re in an area that’s particularly hilly. Your car might have to expend more energy to maintain a constant speed going up a hill, so it’s best to turn off cruise control in these areas.
- Give your car a tune up. Keeping your car in tip-top shape could save money at the pump too. Give your car a tune up and you could improve its gas mileage by up to 4 percent. Fixing more serious repairs, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your fuel economy by as much as 40 percent, according to the DOE.
- Make sure your tires are properly inflated. For every 1 psi drop in pressure in your tires, your fuel economy can drop 0.3 percent. Keep your tires at the correct psi to save on gas. You can find the proper tire pressure on the door jamb of the driver’s side. (Don’t just use the maximum pressure printed on the tire’s sidewall.)
- Keep your speed in check. Most vehicles start to lose efficiency at speeds above 50 mph. In fact, the DOE says that for each 5 mph increase over 50 mph, you’ll likely spend an extra $0.20 per gallon of gas. When it’s safe to do so, keep your vehicle at an energy saving speed.
- Clean out your car. If you’re driving around with a lot of extra stuff in your car or truck, your gas mileage is likely lower than it should be. The DOE says every 100 pounds extra in your car decreases your fuel economy by 1 percent.
- Don’t idle. On hot summer days, you may want to let your car idle while you wait for it to cool down. However, leaving your car running can waste ¼ to ½ gallon of gas per hour. Turn the vehicle off to save gas.