GREEN TIPS
The Benefits of Carpooling
Carpooling is a wonderful way to get to work or school and there are
more people out there willing to carpool than you might imagine. The
problem is that many people are unaware of how to start a carpool and
so they just continue driving. However, besides reducing traffic and
helping the environment, carpooling will offer significant financial
benefits to each carpooler. A brief overview of a few of the benefits
are detailed below.
Gas
Gas prices hit record highs in 2008 and they may hit record highs
again soon. There is no way to know when gas prices will go up again,
but one thing is for certain and that is that they will go up once
more. Either way, carpooling saves each member money. If a tank of gas
costs on average $35 and you were driving a tank?s worth of gas a week
then this was a cost you had to bear simply to get to work. However, if
you add 3 more people to the mix and the cost of gas is shared over the
period of a week you will spend much less money per week. This could
result in savings of up to $100 or more per month. That?s worth
carpooling!
Car Repair
The more you drive your car the more it will need to be repaired.
However, if you are only driving once or twice per week as compared to
five times per week then you will put fewer miles on your car. Doing
this means that the car will have fewer mechanical problems over time
and that your car will last you longer than it would have otherwise.
This can save you a lot of money because once your car is paid off it
will still be in good condition.
Shared Tolls
Many highways have tolls and if you drive to work each day this can
add up to a lot of money over the period of a month or year. However,
if you are carpooling this is an expense that can be shared between
four or five people. That is much more affordable for everyone and
worth carpooling!
There may be even more financial savings by carpooling, too. For
example, if there is a carpool rule not to stop on the way to or from
work then you may save money not stopping to buy breakfast or coffee
every day. This could be a great way to eat breakfast at home and save
money that way, too.
How to Green Your Car
Best practices -
Driving technique has a lot to do with your fuel economy. Avoid sudden
starts and stops and go the speed limit. Not only does speeding and
herky-jerky driving kill your MPG, it's dangerous. And even if no one
gets hurt in a fender bender, how green is it to get a new bumper or
have your car re-painted?
As a general rule of thumb, keep your engine speeds between 1,200 --
3,000 RPMs, and up-shift between 2,000 -- 2500 RPMs. Also, drive wise
and minimize unnecessary miles by doing errands in one trip, getting
good directions, and calling ahead.
Stay in tune -
Getting regular tune-ups, maintenance, and having clean air filters
will help you burn less gas, pollute less, and prevent car trouble down
the line. Pump up: if every American?s tires were properly inflated we
could save around 2 billion gallons of gas each year! (Check your
manual for optimal pressure). Lastly, get the junk out of the trunk!
All that extra weight is sapping your fuel economy.
Leave the car at home - For shorter adventures, walk,
take public transit, ride your bike (regular, electric-assisted, or
something fancier), skateboard, rollerblades, or even look into an
electric scooter. Carrying groceries or other bulky stuff can still be
done on a bike with a backpack or some slick modifications. Check out
the Xtracycle, for example.
Drive part of the way -
If getting where you?re going by bike or public transit alone isn?t
going to happen, consider driving part of the way and then jumping on
public transit or your bike (a folder would be perfect). A great way to
beat traffic!
Go easy on the AC -
Use the windows to help keep the car cool. Or try an electric or solar
fan. Parking in the shade and using a reflective windshield shade can
keep your car cooler when parked, meaning it takes less to cool it off
when you get back in. If you car is new, however, let it air out. That
new car smell is not friendly stuff.
Aspire to carelessness -
Not everyone is going to be able
to do it, at least not cold car-key. It will probably entail a shift in
thinking and some time, but living car-free might be more within reach
than you think. Living closer to work and school is a big part of it.
Walking, biking, public transport, car sharing, car borrowing, and
teleconferencing are a strong arsenal of tools to help reduce the need
for a car. Give it some thought.
The Honda Insight
More is More
The
whole idea behind the design of the Insight was to make hybrid
technology accessible to a greater number of people. And more hybrids
replacing conventional gas engine vehicles out on the road can only
improve things for the environment.To that end, the Insight was designed for excellent fuel economy,
of course, but the goal was also practicality and affordability. With
an EPA-estimated 43 mpg*, the AT-PZEV-rated** Insight ranks as one
of the more efficient cars out there.
Flower Power
EPA
numbers are important, but the way you drive also affects the fuel
economy you achieve. The Insight features a remarkable new system
that helps boost your efficiency and monitor your own driving habits to
maximize your mpg for your driving conditions. It's called
Eco Assist***
and it includes a green ECON button that, when pressed, regulates
certain vehicle functions to maximize efficiency. The system also
features a real-time feedback system to help promote driver awareness
of efficient driving habits on a daily and ongoing basis.
*40 city/43 hwy/41 combined mpg. Based
on 2010 EPA mileage estimates, reflecting new EPA fuel-economy methods
beginning with 2008 models. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not
compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending
on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.
**AT-PZEV
(Advanced Technology Partial Zero-Emission Vehicle) models as certified
by California Air Resources Board (CARB) are available in California
and states that have adopted California Zero-Emission Vehicle
regulations.
***Eco Assist is a trademark of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., and may not be used or reproduced without prior written approval.
The Honda Civic Hybrid
Power at the Pump
The
benefits of the refined gasoline-electric powertrain on the Civic
Hybrid are never more evident than when you watch those little numbers
adding up at the pump. And with an EPA-estimated city/highway rating of
40 city/45 hwy mpg*, you'll spend a lot less time there at the gas station.
Help Clear the Air
The air also benefits with the
Advanced Technology Partial-Zero-Emission Vehicle** rating, which is the most stringent emission standard achieved by a gasoline-powered vehicle in the U.S.
*Based on 2009 EPA mileage estimates,
reflecting new EPA fuel economy methods beginning with 2008 models. Use
for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008.
Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain
your vehicle.
**AT-PZEV (Advanced Technology Partial
Zero-Emission Vehicle), as certified by California Air Resources Board
(CARB) in California and states that have adopted California emissions
standards.
