How does driving my car affect the air I breathe? Motor vehicle exhaust from cars, vans and SUVs is a major source of pollution. Despite improvements in emissions control systems, air pollution from cars remains a public health problem due to the number of vehicles on the road and the amount we drive. Emissions testing programs help curb increases in air pollutants, such as ground-level ozone, fine particles and air toxins.
Tips to Increase Fuel Efficiency
Save Gas, Save Money and Protect Energy Resources. Good car maintenance and driving habits can improve gas mileage and air quality and save you money. At $3.65 or more per gallon those extra costs can add up fast.
Drive Sensibly. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33% and cost you up to $1.20 more per gallon. Combine errands into one sensible trip to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution.
Observe the speed limit. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each 5 mph over 60 is like paying an additional 29¢ per gallon of gas. Using cruise control on the highway to maintain a constant speed will save fuel.
Give your car regular tune-ups and maintenance. Getting regular tune-ups and oil changes and keeping your tires properly inflated helps reduce fuel use by up to 40%.
Purchase a fuel-efficient vehicle.
Selecting which vehicle to purchase is the most important fuel economy decision you can make. The difference between a car that gets 20 MPG and one that gets 30 MPG amounts to $913 per year (assuming 15,000 miles). That’s $4,563 extra in fuel costs over five years! Use DEP’s Clean Car List to find cars that achieve more than 30 MPG at www.maine.gov/dep/air/lev4me or www.fueleconomy.gov’s “Find and Compare Cars” section.
Brought to you by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. EPA. For more information about Maine’s efforts to protect air quality, visit www.maine.gov/dep/air or call 207-287-2437.
