Green Living: Your Automobile
Car Washing
Well, summer is almost here and you know what that means. People hauling out the hoses, buckets and soaps for their traditional driveway car wash. Fun as this may be, many people are still unaware of the devastating impacts the at-home car wash can have on our environment. Each time you wash your car, an average of 80 - 140 gallons of water are used. Carried in this soapy mess are contaminants such as brake dust, exhaust fumes, oils, and harsh detergents from the soaps. Once this drains into open sewers it wreaks havoc on our water supply. Outlined below are ten eco-friendly car washing techniques that work!
- Consider switching to an waterless car wash this summer. Trade the hoses and buckets for a small spray bottle and two microfiber towels. Currently popular overseas, waterless car wash products are finally here in the U.S.
- Swap paper towels for re-usable microfiber towels. Microfibers are super absorbent and can be re-used up to 50 times.
You can buy 2 Microfiber Towels here for about $10
- Steer clear of products containing "petroleum-distillates, kerosene, silicone, or mineral spirits" These products are known carcinogens and have an adverse impact on the environment.
- If you do continue using the hose method, buy an automatic shut-off valve so that water is not continuing to flow as you wash.
- Look for soaps which are phosphate-free. Phosphates encourage algae bloom when they enter water and reduce oxygen levels for other aquatic species.
- Wash your car over the lawn instead of in the driveway. You値l both water the grass, and also prevent the contaminated water from hitting open sewers.
Over Inflated Tires
Over inflated tires can reduce your fuel efficiency. Remember to check your tire pressure and never overfill them. This is because you need to leave space air expansion when the tires get hot when driving.
You can buy a
Smart Pressure Digital Tire Gauge here from Brookstone for about $30
Under Inflated Tires
Conversely, you should avoid driving with soft tires. When soft and not at the correct PSI pounds per square inch, your car requires more energy to move and maintain speed as well as increase fuel emissions. According to a Carnegie Mellon University informal study, majority of cars on the roads are only 80% inflated to capacity and inflating tires to the proper pressure improves mileage by about 3.3%. And the best part is that it is definitely safer too.
You can buy the same
Smart Pressure Digital Tire Gauge here from Brookstone for about $30
Tire Rotation
Rotate your tires to ensure even tire threading. This causes less strain to the engine.
Air Conditioning
In summer, run your air conditioner sparingly at a low setting. When the car is sufficiently cool, switch to fan mode instead. Ensure that windows are tightly shut and not rolled down when the air conditioning is running
Starting The Engine
The first few minutes after starting are the periods when the engine efficiency is on the lower side. Drive away by accelerating slowly and gradually increasing the speed through the gears. The first mile of operation after the engine is started is when the mileage is least and hence careful driving might get the most out of the fuel.
Get Comfortable
Adjust the seat according to your comfort and make sure you are in a comfortable driving position before you start driving. A comfortable driving position lets you have a lighter leg on the gas pedal there by saving fuel.
Stay The Course
As far as possible, stick to the same lane. When you shift lanes to overtake, acceleration is necessary which leads to increased fuel consumption. Avoid lane switching as far as possible.
Don't Put The Pedal To The Metal
Build up speed gradually before you get to a hill and keep the gas pedal steady when climbing. This helps in reducing fuel usage. While coming down a hill, coast with the help of the vehicle痴 momentum and the earth痴 gravitational force!
Overdrive
Use overdrive. Using overdrive results in upto 10% increase in fuel efficiency. Shift into higher gears whenever possible and do so without lugging or over revving the engine.
Maintain A Consistent Speed
Avoid over speeding and keep the engine at speeds where its performance is the highest. This will result in better fuel efficiency, smoother engine operation and longer engine life.
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