Resolutions for Greener Driving
Make no mistake about it: the biggest polluter in the Northwest can be found sitting in your driveway.
Driving has a larger impact on our air quality than any other source, and the same is true of global warming - cars and trucks are Oregon's major sources of emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and the chief culprit in changing our climate.
Advances in pollution control technology, such as catalytic converters, mean that newer cars emit fewer smog-forming compounds and less carbon monoxide. But Americans drive more each year, undermining these gains.
Furthermore, catalytic converters don't reduce CO2 emissions, which are skyrocketing because cars are becoming less, not more, fuel efficient. Consider this; Ford produces less fuel efficient cars, than its first car, the Model T, which got a respectable 25 mpg. Perhaps not surprisingly, Ford has dropped to fourth place world-wide in sales among major auto manufacturers.
You can help our local environment buck these trends. And it's easy. You don't have to make huge sacrifices to make a big difference.
Join the 'Once a Week' Club.
If everyone chose just one day a week to leave the car at home, take the bus, walk, or ride a bike, it would cut commuter-related pollution and congestion by 20%!
Get pumped.
Check your tire pressure every month and maintain it at manufacturer specifications. If your tires are under-inflated by just 4 pounds, it will cost you a half mile per gallon.
Stay tuned.
A badly tuned car uses almost 10% more gas than a well-tuned car. Replace the oil and oil filter regularly - check you owner's manual for how often. Be sure to check for worn spark plugs, dragging brakes, and low transmission fluid. Have your wheels aligned and tires rotated; and replace the air filter if needed.
Buy green.
If you're in the market for a car, buy the most fuel-efficient and low-emission vehicle that meets your everyday needs. When you service your car, ask for re-refined oil and recycled antifreeze.
Stop idling!
Letting your engine idle for more than 30 seconds will burn more fuel than turning off the engine and restarting it.
Drive less.
If you leave your car at home one day a week, you will prevent 55 pounds of pollution each year from being emitted into our air.
Go with the flow.
"Jack Rabbit" starts and abrupt stops increase both fuel use and emissions. Try to manage your lane changes so that you avoid slowing down and speeding up. Anticipate traffic stops.
Know your limits.
For every mile an hour over 55 mph, the average car or truck loses almost 2% in gas mileage.
Avoid high speeds.
The Department of Transportation reported that if all drivers observed the speed limit, approximately 71 tons of pollution would not be emitted and 4 million gallons of gas would be saved.
Plan ahead.
Plan your car trips carefully to keep unnecessary driving to a minimum.
Take a load off.
The heavier your car is, the more gas it uses. Every extra 100 pounds costs you about a half-mile per gallon - so lose the unnecessary weight.
Drag is a drag.
If you drive with a roof rack, aerodynamic drag increases. If your roof rack is removable, take it off when it's not being used regularly; this can increase fuel economy by as much as 5%.
Park and walk.
Don't drive around the parking lot waiting for a convenient place to open up. Park in the first space you find and walk. It's probably faster, and will give you some exercise too.
Driving has a larger impact on our air quality than any other source, and the same is true of global warming - cars and trucks are Oregon's major sources of emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and the chief culprit in changing our climate.
Advances in pollution control technology, such as catalytic converters, mean that newer cars emit fewer smog-forming compounds and less carbon monoxide. But Americans drive more each year, undermining these gains.
Furthermore, catalytic converters don't reduce CO2 emissions, which are skyrocketing because cars are becoming less, not more, fuel efficient. Consider this; Ford produces less fuel efficient cars, than its first car, the Model T, which got a respectable 25 mpg. Perhaps not surprisingly, Ford has dropped to fourth place world-wide in sales among major auto manufacturers.
You can help our local environment buck these trends. And it's easy. You don't have to make huge sacrifices to make a big difference.
Join the 'Once a Week' Club.
If everyone chose just one day a week to leave the car at home, take the bus, walk, or ride a bike, it would cut commuter-related pollution and congestion by 20%!
Get pumped.
Check your tire pressure every month and maintain it at manufacturer specifications. If your tires are under-inflated by just 4 pounds, it will cost you a half mile per gallon.
Stay tuned.
A badly tuned car uses almost 10% more gas than a well-tuned car. Replace the oil and oil filter regularly - check you owner's manual for how often. Be sure to check for worn spark plugs, dragging brakes, and low transmission fluid. Have your wheels aligned and tires rotated; and replace the air filter if needed.
Buy green.
If you're in the market for a car, buy the most fuel-efficient and low-emission vehicle that meets your everyday needs. When you service your car, ask for re-refined oil and recycled antifreeze.
Stop idling!
Letting your engine idle for more than 30 seconds will burn more fuel than turning off the engine and restarting it.
Drive less.
If you leave your car at home one day a week, you will prevent 55 pounds of pollution each year from being emitted into our air.
Go with the flow.
"Jack Rabbit" starts and abrupt stops increase both fuel use and emissions. Try to manage your lane changes so that you avoid slowing down and speeding up. Anticipate traffic stops.
Know your limits.
For every mile an hour over 55 mph, the average car or truck loses almost 2% in gas mileage.
Avoid high speeds.
The Department of Transportation reported that if all drivers observed the speed limit, approximately 71 tons of pollution would not be emitted and 4 million gallons of gas would be saved.
Plan ahead.
Plan your car trips carefully to keep unnecessary driving to a minimum.
Take a load off.
The heavier your car is, the more gas it uses. Every extra 100 pounds costs you about a half-mile per gallon - so lose the unnecessary weight.
Drag is a drag.
If you drive with a roof rack, aerodynamic drag increases. If your roof rack is removable, take it off when it's not being used regularly; this can increase fuel economy by as much as 5%.
Park and walk.
Don't drive around the parking lot waiting for a convenient place to open up. Park in the first space you find and walk. It's probably faster, and will give you some exercise too.
