Health & Fitness
No Matter What Color Your Car Is, You Can Still Make it Green
Six steps for making new and older model cars greener.
By Donna Cosola, owner, The Cleaning Authority
Every day, cars are being designed to be more environmentally-friendly and fuel-efficient, which is great. However, if you are hanging onto your loyal ride until the very end of its life, here are a few ways you can still ride in a very green way:
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How do you roll?
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Properly inflated tires roll easier, last longer, reduce engine wear, improve gas mileage and prevent 250 lbs. of CO2 a year from polluting the atmosphere.
Take a load off!
Carrying around an extra 100 lbs. reduces fuel economy by about 1%. Take a few moments to unload your cargo area.
Don’t let your car idle.
If stuck in traffic or the drive-thru lane, turn off your engine. Idling cars spew much of the 1.7 billion tons of annual auto emissions.
Aim for less miles.
Can you figure out how to drive just 10 fewer miles per week this year? If so you’ll personally prevent 500 lbs. of CO2 from polluting the atmosphere.
Give your car a tune up.
It improves mileage and pollution. Every 100,000 people who get a tune-up this year will eliminate 60 tons of CO2.
Don’t bother with the hose at home.
Wash your car at a commercial car wash instead of at home. A modern car wash reuses water and prevents oil and road grime from entering drainage systems.
See more from Donna and others on Eve.
Photo Courtesy of Sujin Jetkasettakorn / Free Digital Photos
