If It Is Thursday It's Going Green - Cars-part 2

Remember the 4 R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair

Keep Tires Properly Inflated - You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer. If you don't know the correct tire pressure for your vehicle, you can find it listed on the door to the glove compartment or on the driver's-side door.

Put long-lasting, high-quality tires on your car. Caution: over inflating your tires (as some mileage fanatics suggest) will have a negative affect on your car’s handling. Check your wheel alignment periodically.

Fuel Cap - Around 17 percent of the cars on the road have gas caps that need attention, and the evaporation from the tanks of those autos accounts for 147 million gallons of wasted gas a year. If the gas cap on your car is damaged, loose or missing, take time to visit the auto parts store and fix it. Evaporation wastes gas and adds to air pollution.

Planning and Combining Errands - A painless way to reduce your driving (and the fuel consumption, pollution, and greenhouse gas generation that it entails) is to think about all the errands you need to take care of before you get behind the wheel and plan accordingly. Try to shop in one location you will find that one ride covering a half-dozen stops can cut out five additional trips. You'll not only save fuel, but also reduce wear and tear on your car.

Delivery Gas Savings - UPS squeezes every last drop of mileage from its fleet of 94,000 vehicles, saving 3 million gallons of gas a year. Some expert tips: Keep moving. “Left turns waste time and energy,” says a UPS spokesperson “you don’t want the engine idling at a green light while you wait for oncoming traffic to pass. When you do make a planned stop, turn off the engine.”

This idea takes a little time to get used to. I tried it and found it quite simple to vary my route slightly by taking only right turns. :-)

Commuting - If you can stagger your work hours to avoid peak rush hours, you'll spend less time sitting in traffic and consume less fuel. If you own more than one vehicle, drive the one that gets the best gas mileage whenever possible.

Consider telecommuting (working from home) if your employer permits it. Many employers are now offering 4 day work weeks (10 hours per day) in an effort to cut down fuel consumption. Why not ask?

If possible, take advantage of carpools and ride-share programs. You can cut your weekly fuel costs in half if you take turns driving with other commuters. Many urban areas allow vehicles with multiple passengers to use special High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes. Look at alternative transportation options—even if it's just for one or two days a week. Walk, bicycle, carpool or take public transportation and leave your vehicle at home. Public transportation could also save money by not paying for parking fees.

Think about how your fuel conservation efforts benefit the Earth and future generations