by Tara Knudson

Created on: May 08, 2008   Last Updated: May 20, 2008

Unless you work and live in an urban center you probably drive a car sometimes, if not daily, and whether you're worried about your grandkids' air, or you'd just rather be part of the solution than the problem, you'd probably like to be more environmentally friendly in your habits. Fortunately little changes can have big results.

Decreasing fuel consumption is the first step. Before you leave the driveway make sure your load is as light and streamlined as possible. Peek in the trunk to see if there is any sports equipment or junk that can be left in the garage. If you have a roof rack or car top carrier can you store it at home? Anything that causes wind drag and decreases the aerodynamics of your vehicle will increase fuel consumption.

As you shift into gear, take a moment to plan your trip. Can you get several errands done at once? Can you avoid steep hills? Can you maximize the outing? Get in the habit of making every trip count, and you'll notice you visit the gas station less often.

Once you're on the street or highway choose a driving style that minimizes the use of your breaks. Sure, they're important, but every time you use them you waste energy that you've already burned getting your car up to speed, and energy consumed is pollution emitted. By traveling at a safe distance from the car ahead, accelerating smoothly at intersections, and avoiding traffic times that require a lot of stop and go action, you'll lower your consumption of fuel.

Maximizing your car's efficiency is the next step in reducing emissions. An engine begging for a tune can be 50% less efficient than a well maintained one. Keep fuel filters and air filters unclogged, and changed as directed by your owner's manual. Using synthetic oil, along with a synthetic additive allows you to go longer between oil changes and increases fuel efficiency at the same time. Choosing A/C on highway trips and rolling down the windows for cooling in the city is another easy way to get the tank to last longer by maximizing the aerodynamics of your vehicle at high speeds, and using wind flow to cool at low speeds, while burning less energy.

Replacing your vehicle with a hybrid or more efficiently powered vehicle is a bold turn you can take when traveling the "road to green". Whether you purchase new or used, it's a good idea to make fuel consumption and efficiency comparisons, including the cost to operate over the years you'll be driving. A 15 or 20% difference in fuel efficiency will significantly effect what you pay at the pump over the course of a year.

Every step you take, large or small, has an impact, and a series of little choices can have great results. Do what you can, when you can, and soon you'll have new habits that benefit your wallet and your world.

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