Go Go Green Cars

Today fuel prices are rising and people are becoming more aware of the impact vehicles have on the environment. Consumers who are shopping for vehicles are making smarter choices and buying vehicles that are fuel efficient and have less of an impact on our ecosystem. Below are some of the things you can do to drive greener.

Tailpipe and CO2 emissions have played havoc on our environment. When you are considering buying a vehicle you should check the car’s air pollution scores. You can use the Internet and find the EPA’s air pollution scores for any vehicle. These list are searchable by state and vehicle model.

Today many of the automakers are using green materials in the interior of their vehicles. They are also using recycled components and making parts from plants. Some automakers are using leather like products and using environmentally certified fabrics.

You can use the Internet to find which vehicles have been given top awards for being green. Some people may be surprised that diesels have recently been beating out hybrids for green awards. There are a number of organizations that give green awards. You can check them out to see which vehicles are rated the highest as far as being green.

You can also compare the factories of the different automakers. Most of them have made huge strides in making their manufacturing facilities green. The Ford Dearborn Truck Plant in Michigan has 10 acres of drought resistant plants helping to absorb the CO2 in the air. It also has a program that captures paint fumes and converts them to hydrogen to a power a fuel cell at the plant.

If everyone does their part and makes a conscious effort to drive green we can make a difference in the quality of air we breathe. By driving green you are also saving money on fuel.

There are many simple little things that can be done to help conserve fuel, which in turn, puts less hazardous emission into the air. Your driving habits have a lot to do with whether you will save fuel more than the actual vehicle you drive does. The way you drive and how well you maintain your vehicle will make a big difference.

Aggressive driving and flooring the gas pedal not only wastes fuel it also emits hazardous emissions into the air. Try to be looking ahead and anticipating stops you will have to make. That way you can coast as much as possible, which save fuel and wear and tear on your brakes. If you drive ten miles over the speed limit you can lower your fuel economy by almost 10%. Try to avoid rush hour stop and go traffic if possible. This type of driving burns gas and increases smog pollution in the air.

If your vehicle has an overdrive gear you should use it when you are at cruising speeds. If you are driving a manual transmission you should try to shift up as soon as possible. If you run in a higher gear you will get better fuel mileage and it will save wear and tear on your engine. Another thing to remember is to use your air conditioning sparingly to save fuel.

You should check your tire pressure often. They should be inflated to the manufacturers recommended pressure. You can find the tire pressure in your owner’s manual or it is usually printed inside the door frame. It is estimated that for every three pounds your tires are below the recommended pressure you lose about 1 percent in fuel economy. Tires that are under deflated can also be a safety hazard and cause wear and tear on your tires.

You can drive greener and save fuel at the same time by changing your driving habits and keeping your vehicle maintained.