Transportation

The order of actions needed:

  • Decrease overall miles driven
  • Decrease fuel use over those miles
  • Increase mass transit options
  • Improve new vehicle efficiency and emissions
  • Advance alternative fuels
  • Advance alternative technologies

Ways to reduce driving:

  • Combine errands
  • Carpool
  • Travel when idling reduced
  • Avoid rush hour
  • Choose to live close to work/school (remember this when you graduate)

Non-driving alternatives:

  • Walking
  • Biking
  • Mass Transit

Buying a new vehicle

  • Buy vehicle for you use it for most (not what you occasionally do - rent that vehicle)
  • Shop with efficiency ratings in mind
  • Remember emissions
  • Consider lifetime costs

Improv efficiency with your current car:

  • Observe speed limits (55 ain't for safety)
  • Don't be a Jack Rabbit (Quick starts 5%)
  • Clean air filters (10%)
  • Tires at poor inflation (3%)
  • Get rid of roof rack (5%)
  • Reduce excess idling
  • Lighten the load - each extra 100lbs decreases mileage by 2%

Factoids:

  • Because of drag, for every 5 mph over 60 mph you drive, you can add $0.15/gal to the price you pay for gas. In other words, if gas is $3/gal @ 80 mph you are really spending $3.60/gal
  • 17% = Proportion of total expenditures that the average American household spends on vehicles (U.S. Burea of Labor Statistics)

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