Less Miles, Smaller Carbon Footprint

As I write this, gasoline is down to $1.98 a gallon in my town. It wasn't that long ago that gas was closer to $4 a gallon. The higher gas prices really made people think about what they could do to save money. We still have to keep in mind that whenever we drive, we are using up a natural resource as well as polluting the air. But it is amazing how dependent we've become on our vehicles.

There was some debate on how to get the best gas mileage. http://www.fueleconomy.gov/FEG/drive.shtml has listed 4 categories on their web site.
1. Drive more efficiently. "Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes
gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around
town."
2. Keep your car in shape. "Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen
sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent." Check and replace air filters.
"You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to
the proper pressure." "You can improve your gas mileage by 1-2 percent by using the
manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil."
3. Plan and combine trips. My aunt was telling me that during the rationing of WWII, they
would always ask themselves if the trip was really necessary. I think that still holds true
today.
4. Choose a more efficient vehicle.