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Reduce summer fuel consumption 20% |
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If you drive a car, disconnect the A/C compressor to save 20% during summer driving and 5-10% during winter. The refrigeration system used to cool the interior of the car could easily cool a 2000 square foot home! Scroll to the following EPA report to see several other ways you can reduce fuel consumption right now!
Effect Conditions Average Fuel Maximum Fuel
Economy Economy
Reduction Reduction
Temperature* 20F vs 77F 5.3% 13%
Head Wind 20 mph 2.3% 6%
Hills/Mountains 7% road grade 1.9% 25%
Poor road Gravel, curves, 4.3% 50%
conditions* slush, snow, etc.
Traffic 20 vs 27 mph 10.6% 15%
Congestion average speed
Highway speed 70 vs 55 mph N/A 25%
Acceleration "Hard" vs "Easy" 11.8% 20%
Rate
Wheel 1/2 inch <1% 10%
Alignment
Tire Type non-radial <1% 4%
vs radial
Tire Pressure* 15 psi vs 3.3% 6%
26 psi
Air Conditioning Extreme Heat 21% N/A
Defroster* Extreme Use Analogous to A/C on some vehicle
Idling/Warmup* Winter vs Variable 20%
Summer with Driver
Windows Open vs Closed Unknown but likely small
Source: The Office of Mobile Sources is the national center for research and policy on air pollution from highway and off-highway motor vehicles and equipment. You can write to them at the EPA National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory, 2565 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105. Phone number is (734) 214-4333. Webpage: http://www.epa.gov/orcdizux/rfgecon.htm
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Speaking at a climate change conference in Miami, California Governor Arnold Scwarzenegger said drivers can do a lot to cut fuel costs by driving slower.
"Who can cut (costs) down is you, you, you and you," Schwarzenegger
said. "You can cut it down. Take your car, for instance. Go and get the
perfect tire pressure. Tune up your engine. Drive slower." He went on to say "energy prices are not going to go back to the good
old days" and it is "bogus" for politicians to promise otherwise."
"Politicians have been throwing around all kinds
of ideas in response to the skyrocketing energy prices, from the
rethinking of nuclear power to pushing biofuels and more renewables and
ending the ban on offshore drilling," Schwarzenegger said. "But anyone
who tells you this would bring down gas prices any time soon is blowing
smoke. I think that people should really be in charge of their
own destiny and how much they want to pay for fuel, not wait for the
politicians," he said.
The Drive 55 Conservation Project is delighted with the Governor's message and hand delivered a Thank You letter with Drive 55 bumper stickers to his office in Sacramento today. Leadership in the legislature also got a letter and some Drive 55 bumper stickers hand delivered to their offices in the Capital, inviting them to 'Lead by example'.
Quote sources:
Sacramento BEE
http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/1042081.html
LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/
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