How can you help reduce your vehicle's contribution to global warming?
While most of us would like to think that we aren’t part of the problem, the fact remains that if you drive one of the many vehicles on the road, you’re contributing to global warming. And America is home to the largest passenger vehicle market in the world—with over 243 million. The burning of gasoline and diesel fuel releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere—and that means every time you drive, you up the ante.
The actual amount of miles driven has increased dramatically since the oil crisis of the 1970s, when the United States made admiral progress in reducing overall carbon dioxide emissions. Until the 1990s, that is—that’s when they started to climb again. Meanwhile, manufacturers continued to block attempts to raise fuel efficiency standards. Thus, from the late 80s onward, fuel efficiency dropped and miles driven increased. The result? The carbon burden increased.
It’s a lethal combo—more and larger vehicles with reduced fuel efficiency partnered with higher amounts of miles driven—one that equals an upward spiraling of the carbon burden.
But don’t give up yet. While we can’t give up our reliance—and pleasure of—our cars (and trucks), you as an individual can take action to reduce your vehicle’s greenhouse gas emissions, in addition to helping to reduce dependence upon imported oil, clean up the air we all breathe and save money. Sound good? Good. Read on for tips to help make it happen:
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Go Green: Use alternative fuel vehicles and learn about alternative fuels. Or second best, check out the fuel economy and emission information on any vehicle you own, or are planning to own. Start with the Green Vehicle Guide and the Fuel Economy Guide to see how your four wheels shape up. Check if you have a flex-fuel vehicle (FFV)—with over 5 million FFVs on the road today—your car might just be a FFV sleeper. Is yours on this list?
- Go Easy & Maintain, Maintain, Maintain: A variety of factors affect your vehicle’s fuel economy—and one of the most important is an easy driving style and regular maintenance. If you use a lighter foot on the brakes and gas pedal, avoid putting the pedal to the metal for fast accelerations, and reduce idling time, your fuel economy will improve—and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Checking and inflating those tires to the correct pressure will also help.
- Buddy up: Whether you choose to carpool with friends, grab the bus, hop on your bike or locomote with your two legs, they’re all ways to leave your car parked in the garage—and reduce your contribution to the carbon burden. Parking your car and choosing one of these alternatives just two times per week can chop greenhouse gas emissions by about 1,590 pounds per year. Good news, huh? And good for you—who couldn’t use more exercise?
- Plan first: When heading out to take care of errands, see if you can combine trips. Those short trips when your car's engine is cold can use twice as much fuel in addition to producing twice as many greenhouse gas emissions. Combine those short trips into one multipurpose trip with a warm engine and you’ll not only save time, but also fuel and lessen your contribution to the carbon burden.
More answers to your global warming questions:
What is global warming and is it really a concern?Do auto manufacturers contribute to global warming?