Tired of pumping too much of your paycheck into your gas tank? Want to make a difference for Maine’s environment? Try our money-saving travel tips. Make every day Earth Day!
Tune In To Savings By Tuning Up
Follow your car’s recommended maintenance schedule and your car will use less fuel, run better, and last longer. A tuned engine and clean gas and oil filters can save you almost $4 on a $25 fill-up!
Keep ’em Pumped
About one in four cars, SUVs, vans, and pickups have tires filled at least eight pounds below proper levels. Properly inflated tires can save up to five percent on gasoline.
Lighten Up
Spring cleaning should include removing unnecessary weight from your car or truck and removing that roof rack when you’re not using it. They can be a real drag on your mileage.
Take It Easy
Accelerating and braking gently can improve gas mileage by up to 12 percent. Slowing down from 75 to 65 miles per hour reduces gasoline consumption by about 15 percent and saves lives, too. Each mile per hour you drive over 60 mph is like paying an extra 15 cents per gallon, according to the Department of Energy.
Don’t Idle Away Your Money
Turn off your engine while you’re parked or waiting or at drive-thru windows. If the wait is longer than 30 seconds, starting up a car again uses less gasoline than leaving it running.
Get It Together
Combine errands and carpool when possible. If you commute 10 miles each way, carpooling with one other person in a 25-mpg vehicle can save you nearly $260 a year on gas.
Shop for Savings
Buy the most fuel-efficient car that meets your needs. Compare models you like on www.fueleconomy.gov and pick the one with the highest miles-per-gallon rating. The mid-sized Toyota Prius costs less than the average car and gets more than 50 miles per gallon. If new cars got 40-mpg, Americans would save more than 15 times the likely potential yield of drilling the oil from the Arctic Wildlife Refuge!
Get Active
Let your state and federal lawmakers know that you want more less-polluting and efficient cars, trucks, and SUVs that pollute less. Sign up for the NRCM Action Network!
