Trail to Earth Day #11: In the car, put the brakes on harmful environmental impacts
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These NASA images show the difference between air pollution in March 2020 (below) and the previous five years. It’s a stark illustration of how much is to be gained by driving less. |
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April 14, 2020 —Transportation is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas pollution, and cars are major contributors. Vehicle emissions are a big part of this, but a car’s ecological impact goes beyond this single aspect.
Keeping your car tuned up is always a key way to improve longevity, reliability and fuel economy. Although Covid-19 policies consider auto repair shops and service centers to be essential services, many are only open now for urgent fixes. Unless you’re a do-it-yourselfer, regular tune-ups, oil and filter changes etc. may have to wait.
But there are small practices anyone can do start doing now that could help make any gas guzzler or electric-powered vehicle more environmentally conscious and have an impact once we’re back on the roads again in larger numbers.
To boost fuel economy, one of the simplest things you can do is maintain correct tire pressure. Under-inflated tires don’t roll as efficiently as fully inflated ones, so your engine has to work harder to get them moving. That means your car burns more fuel.
Remove extra weight from your car. The more it weighs, the more fuel it uses. When they’re not needed, remove ski racks and heavy roof-top cargo boxes because they increase aerodynamic drag and lower fuel economy.
When re-fueling, never top off your tank with that little extra after the pump stops because it increases the chance of harmful vapors escaping into the atmosphere. And make sure your fuel cap is screwed on tight to reduce vapor emissions.
Don’t use the air conditioner unless you really need it. A/C makes the engine work harder to compensate for the extra strain on your car’s electrical system, leading to higher fuel consumption. When you can get it checked, be sure the A/C is working efficiently, at correct levels for pressure and refrigerants.
And here’s an easy one: open the windows when you’re driving around town.
Choosing not to idle in our cars may be one of the simplest and most effective things to help the environment. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, idling can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour, depending on engine size and AC use. And eliminating personal vehicle idling would be equivalent to taking 5 million vehicles off the road.
Modern electronic ignition systems and more efficient batteries mean that it is better for the car, the engine, the pocketbook and the environment if you turn off the car and restart it when you are ready to go.
If you own more than one vehicle, drive the one that gets better gas mileage whenever possible. Combine short errands into one trip. And plan ahead for the shortest, most gas-saving route.
Current stay-at-home policies are giving us eye-opening glimpses of what the world would be like with many fewer gas-powered vehicles on the streets. As restrictions are lifted, we’ll have opportunities to make different choices for the future.
Following these simple tips will not only help the environment, they are also a signal to others, especially young people, that individual actions are important and collectively can make a significant impact. — by Liza Hickey
“Now I used to think that I was cool
Running around on fossil fuel
Until I saw what I was doing
Was driving down the road to ruin”
