How to Make Your Car Greener
How to Make Your Car Greener
Green living doesn’t mean you have to give up your car. While walking or using public transportation are likely the greenest options, there are many things you can do to lessen the environmental impact of your automobile. Here are a few ideas for making your car greener.
– Choose a fuel-efficient car. Small cars use much less fuel than big ones. Also, newer cars are usually more fuel-efficient than older models. Of course, a hybrid or full-electric car will be even better for the environment.
– Keep your tires inflated to the proper level. This helps your car run at its top efficiency, and in turn, use less gasoline.
– Don’t warm up your car before driving it. It only takes a few minutes for the heat to start working even on a winter day, so simply start driving to your destination as soon as you start the car. If your car doesn’t run smoothly right away, it’s probably time for a tune-up.
– Only use the air conditioning if you absolutely need to. Running the air conditioner forces the car to use more fuel to power the extra demand.
– Use synthetic motor oil. It often provides better lubrication than real oil. It’s also often made without any petroleum products.
– Drive smoothly. Quick starts waste gasoline and don’t actually save much, if any, time.
– If your car is old, make sure it’s well-tuned. Poorly tuned vehicles are inefficient and waste gas.
– Avoid speeding. Driving fast uses more gasoline than going at a more moderate speed.
– Keep the vehicle’s weight down by making sure the trunk isn’t loaded with things you don’t need to bring along. It’s easy to collect a hundred pounds of extra items; just a few bags of garden soil or rock salt can do it. Check storage areas often to make sure redundant items aren’t adding up.
– Wash your car only when it’s really necessary. Using a schedule can lead to wasted water and extra pollution from detergents and waxes. In many cases, a car can keep its shine for weeks without being washed.
– When you do wash your car, choose environmentally friendly detergents. If you use a commercial washing facility, make sure they filter and recycle water so the same amount can serve many cars.
– Avoid putting luggage or car-tops on the roof. These things break up the car’s aerodynamic profile and cause it to be less fuel efficient. If you can’t fit everything inside the car, leave some things behind.
– Make sure your catalytic converter is in good working order. In many states, mechanics can test your car’s emissions and tell you if anything is amiss.
– Use high-performance air filters and spark plugs to improve how well the engine runs as well as increase fuel efficiency.
– Turn the car off if you expect to be sitting somewhere for a while. Idling, or standing, is a source of unnecessary air pollution. The benefits of turning off your car kick in after 30 seconds; if you’re going to be standing for a shorter time, leave the car on. Of course, if you’re simply stuck in a traffic jam, leave the car running so you can move when the traffic allows.
– Make a list before you go to the store. This helps avoid the need to make extra trips if you forget something. Also, make sure you have essentials like your wallet before you leave to go shopping.
These are some of the many things you can do to reduce the impact your car has on the environment. By reducing your usage of gasoline, you also cut the amount of toxic emissions and carbon put out by your vehicle. Using environmentally friendly cleansers and other such items helps to eliminate the other impacts of using an automobile. While no car is truly pollution-free, you can do a lot to make it greener without sacrificing your mobility. As a bonus, you’ll save money thanks to the car’s reduced need for gasoline.