Drivers Can Help Fight Climate Change, Save at the Gas Pump With Fuel-Efficiency Tips

WASHINGTON, April 20,2007; With gas prices already approaching $3 a gallon nationwide well in advance of the summer driving season - and Earth Day around the corner - the Alliance to Save Energy urges drivers to cut their own energy costs while helping to curb climate change by driving more fuel-efficiently.

The Alliance also encourages consumers to test their "Energy IQ" and take the 6 Degrees of Energy Efficiency Challenge to learn how their energy use and energy waste affects their communities, the nation, and the planet - and how being more energy-efficient contributes to our nation's economic and energy security.

The Alliance offers these tips to improve gas mileage and reduce costly trips to the pump:

   - Maintain your vehicle.  Fixing a faulty oxygen sensor can improve
     mileage by as much as 40 percent.  Fixing a car that is noticeably out
     of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by
     an average of 4 percent
   - Keep your tires properly inflated to improve gas mileage by around 3.3
     percent and also improve safety and tire life.  Under-inflated tires
     can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1 psi (pounds per square
     inch) drop in pressure of all four tires.
   - Use the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil to improve gas
     mileage by 1-2 percent.  Also, look for motor oil that says "Energy
     Conserving" on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains
     friction-reducing additives.
   - Idle minds and idling vehicles - be mindful when behind the wheel.
     Avoid idling, which gets 0 mpg.  Cars with larger engines typically
     waste even more gas while idling than cars with smaller engines.
   - Obey the speed limit.  It's safer and less expensive.  Gas mileage
     usually decreases rapidly above 60 mph.  As a rule of thumb, each 5 mph
     over 60 mph is like paying an additional 20 cents per gallon for gas.
   - Curtail "road rage"/aggressive driving.  Speeding, rapid acceleration,
     and braking can lower gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and 5
     percent around town.  Sensible driving is safer, too - so you may save
     more than gas money.
   - Are you carrying around too much excess "baggage?" Pack lightly when
     traveling, and avoid carrying items on your vehicle's roof.  An extra
     100 pounds in the trunk cuts a typical car's fuel economy by up to 2
     percent.
   - Use cruise control to help cut fuel consumption by maintaining a steady
     speed during highway driving.
   - Combine errands into one trip to drive fewer miles, use less fuel, and
     reduce wear and tear on your vehicle.  Several short trips taken from a
     cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer, multipurpose trip
     when the engine is warmed-up and efficient.
   - Investigate other options for getting to work and other places --
     carpooling, ridesharing, public transportation, biking, walking.
   - Telecommute or stagger work hours if your employer permits to avoid
     sitting in traffic and wasting gas, especially during peak rush hours.
   - If you own more than one vehicle, drive the one that gets better gas
     mileage whenever possible.  If you drive 15,000 miles a year, driving a
     care that gets 20 mpg rather than 30 mpg will cost you nearly $650
     more.  That's approaching $2,500 extra in fuel costs in just four
     years!
   - Buying, leasing, or renting a vehicle? Select a model that gets better
     fuel economy.  Check out http://www.fueleconomy.gov/ for information on
     fuel-efficient vehicles.
   - Take advantage of 2007 federal income tax credits that reduce what you
     owe to Uncle Sam or increase your tax refund by $250 to $3,400 for
     purchases of hybrid-electric or diesel vehicles.  Amounts are based on
     the vehicle's efficiency and fuel savings.  Details in English and
     Spanish on the Alliance's website -- http://www.ase.org/taxcredits.

The Alliance to Save Energy is a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, economy, and national security.