Green Living for Your Vehicle
August 18, 2010 by Power Maven
Filed under going green
Are you looking for ways to have green living but find that your vehicle makes it difficult? Green living for your vehicle is possible, too once you learn how. Not everyone can just give up their cars, even if they want to but there are things we can do to reduce the amount of pollution our vehicles cause and energy they use.
Know Your Alternatives
One of the first steps you can take toward green living for your vehicle is to look into the alternatives you have. Hybrid cars are one well-known option. Hybrid cars are sometimes known as HEV (or hybrid electric vehicles). In these types of cars, they combine the typical gasoline vehicle engine with an energy storage system that can be restored with an external electric source.
These hybrid cars are becoming more popular and more affordable in the hopes that one day, all people can own one of these energy saving vehicles. In the meantime, if you are looking to purchase a new car, you might consider this as a green alternative.
Other alternatives for green vehicles include all electric cars and flexible fuel cars. Many of these alternatives have been around since the 80’s or earlier. They have just not become mainstream enough for a lot of people to know about them. In the past they were expensive to make and to operate but changes are being made to make these greener vehicles available to everyone who wants one.
Conserve Your Vehicle and Gas Usage
Another way that you can get green living from your vehicle is to conserve the usage of your vehicle and the amount of gas that you use. There are different ways that you can do this. You can carpool to use your vehicle less. You can also save all family errands for one trip to avoid multiple back and forth trips. Riding your bike or walking when possible instead is another option. For when you must use your car, here are some ways to get better gas mileage:
• Always go the speed limit
• Avoid sudden starts and stops
• Don’t carry excess junk around in your vehicle
• Use moderate acceleration
• Get regular tune-ups
• Keep the tires in good shape and at the right pressure
• Park in the shade and use reflective shades to keep the vehicle cool
• Try a fan in your vehicle instead of running AC when you can
• Stay in one lane to reduce gas mileage
• Know where you are going – get proper directions
• Keep all filters clean and replaced as needed
Remember that better gas mileage means greener living. It’s not a perfect solution but it’s better than doing nothing at all. With these tips, you can spread green living to your vehicle use as well.




