Carsten, Getty Images
READ MORE ABOUT:
This is one in a series of tips from the book Go Green, Live Rich, by David Bach, which shows how reducing your footprint can increase your wealth. Read a review of the book on TreeHugger, where Bach is also a guest contributor.
It is common knowledge that keeping your tires inflated properly saves on gas, but the great thing about David Bach's book is that he puts a dollar sign to every green step you take. And there is nothing like extra money in your pocket to take the pain out of reducing your carbon footprint. Inflating those tires can result in a 3 percent increase in mileage, thereby earning you 10 cents for every gallon of fuel you buy at $3 per gallon.
Don't haul unnecessary weight. Every pound of junk in the trunk needs energy to move it; a cargo box on the roof adds aerodynamic drag.
Get a tune-up. Clean air filters and a properly tuned engine can increase fuel economy by up to 10 percent, saving you another 30 or so cents per gallon.
Don't drive like a maniac. Bach ruins my day by informing me that agressive acceleration and braking can reduce highway mileage by a third. So keep it slow and steady to maximize efficiency.
It all adds up to a saving of 5,800 pounds of carbon dioxide kept out of the air every year, and it also adds up to an average of $798 per year on gas that costs $3 per gallon, a price that may soon seem cheap.
Learn more about driving efficiently in How To Green you Car.
-
- {}
