Social Action Council Environmental Action Committee

 

REDUCE  TRANSPORTATION ENERGY WASTE

 

Vehicles use ½ of the world’s oil and generate ¼ of the world’s CO₂ generating 20 lbs of CO₂ per gallon of gasoline.

 

Easy Personal Actions — Change Your Driving Habits

 

· Avoid braking

Any energy of motion lost by braking needs to be made up again. Up to 20% saving.  (Does not apply if you have a hybrid vehicle as braking charges the battery.)

· Accelerate Gradually

Don’t put the “pedal to the metal” as this needlessly burns up to 50% more gas

· Stay within speed limits

Reducing your vehicle speed from 80 to 50 mph can reduce consumption from 20-70%

Use cruise control on highways

· Avoid idling the engine

Up to 3% of our fuel is wasted idling engines unnecessarily

· Keep tires inflated

Under-inflated tires increase rolling friction and can increase consumption by 2%

· Keep your engine tuned and change the oil regularly

· Don’t top off at the gas pump as this releases fumes into the air

· Lighten your car, remove roof racks when not needed

· Walk or bike for shorter shopping trips

Think of the trip as an exercise workout and meet your neighbors

· Plan shopping/errands to minimize number of trips

· Park car in central place and walk from store to store (e.g.with a portable wheeled cart)

 

For more info, visit:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/driveHabits.shtml

 

Longer Term Actions

 

· When it’s time to replace your vehicle, substitute a higher mileage vehicle

 

 

Community or Social Actions

 

· Car-pool or van-pool to common destinations

· Use public transportation if possible

· Advocate for car-sharing programs such as Flexcar

· Visit http://www.flexcar.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia

 

Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, MD 21045  (410) 381-0097  www.uucolumbia.net