Fuel economy is on lots of folks’ minds these days. Gasoline at or near $4 hurts in the pocketbook, and of course there is the larger problem of unchecked fossil fuel consumption’s negative effects on the environment.
Thus, in the spirit of community-mindedness that permeates everything I do at BoWilliams.com, here are a few tips to help ease the burdens on your wallet and the planet:
- Carpool. Chances are good that a coworker lives close by.
- Make sure your tires are properly inflated.
- Never use your air conditioner, and drive with the windows up to decrease drag.
- Leave your parking brake set. Not only does this save fuel by limiting your speed, but your car will be in for brakes much more often. Of course, your car isn’t contributing to the problem when it’s in the shop.
- Push your car home in the evening. Alternately, push it to work in the morning, if you have a shower available at your workplace.
- Remove unnecessary items that contribute nothing to the operation of the vehicle, such as trash, work files, the things you’ve been meaning to take to goodwill, the back seat, the carpeting, the headliner, the stereo, the air conditioner, and the bumper covers.
- In this same weight-robs-economy vein, always ensure that your bowels are absolutely empty before using your car. Take laxatives if necessary.
- On the interstate, tie the front end of your car to the rear end of another car and shut your engine off.
- On your next business trip, instead of driving, consider having yourself shipped in a crate. (If you are also implementing suggestion #7, a little logistical planning is highly recommended.)
- Cultivate a drinking problem. If you are intoxicated most of the time, you will drive tentatively, and thus more slowly.
Isn’t it funny how often the simplest solutions elude us? But as you can see, it just takes a little discipline. Happy motoring!
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To number 6, I would add removing passengers, co-workers, kids, car seats, diaper bags, spare tires, golf bags/clubs, fuzzy dice and mardi gras beads. Oh, and while we’re at it, just go ahead and remove the driver … bike it to work. Saves petrol while at the same time moving #7 along.
=)
Snort!
Didn’t some kid try to UPS himself to college a year or two ago?
A great list of ideas. I put one of them into service immediately.