Driving the Auto$mart way

Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency gave out The Auto$mart Guide booklets during the Canadian International Autoshow 2007. The book offers some great tips for saving money, conserving energy, and protecting the environment at the same time.

Perhaps it just isn't possible right now for everyone to switch to a more fuel-efficient or hybrid vehicle. But there are things you can do no matter what kind of car you are driving.

1. Drive less and more efficiently.
Planning ahead and mapping the most practical route can keep you from backtracking and traffic jams. Check to make sure there is no road construction on your route. Even driving up a big hill makes your engine work harder.

2. Take public transit as often as possible.
"A single city bus can take 40 vehicles off the road, save 10,646 litres of fuel and keep 25 tonnes of GHG emission out of the atmosphere each year," according to the booklet. Twenty-five tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions are not pumped into the air we breath from a single city bus? What better way to immediately have an impact than to just leave the car at home? Car pools are another great way to save money and reduce emissions.

3. Don't idle.
It would use more fuel to idle for 10 seconds than it would to turn off your vehicle and restart it. Turn off your vehicle. "If every Canadian motorist avoided idling their vehicle for just five minutes per day, more than 1.4 million tonnes of CO2 would be spared from entering the atmosphere and contributing to climate change."

4. Keep track of your tires.
Make sure your tires are inflated properly, as "just one tire under-inflated by 6 psi can reduce the life of the tire by 10,000 km and will increase the vehicle's fuel consumption by three percent." Especially in colder weather, tire pressure should be checked frequently (at least once a month). Be sure to check for tire wear and tear or damage to ensure you are driving with the most effiicient tires.

5. Keep the rest of your car in shape.
Having your vehicle in peak condition at all times will minimize long-term maintenance costs and maximax your vehicle's operation, not to mention the resell value when you are ready to switch to a more fuel efficient car. Reading the owner's manual will inform you of maintenance schedules and requirements. Even something like a clogged air filter increases fuel consumption by 10 per cent. Change the oil on a regular basis with "Engery Conserving" on the label; they reduce fuel consumption by 2.7 per cent or more.