What You Can Do This Summer

Summer is in full swing, and people are on the go! Now is the time to remember that following a few simple steps at the gas pump and on the road can clean the air and keep more money in your wallet.

Get Out of Your Car

Try walking or biking to work or to lunch; it's good exercise! Plus, by leaving your car behind, even just at lunch time, you can save money and help reduce traffic congestion and air pollution.

Along with summer's soaring temperatures come more air quality alerts. Don't forget to sign up for EnviroFlash e-mails so that you will be notified of expected poor air quality days.

When you receive an air alert, you can make a difference by reducing the amount of driving you do over the next few days. Here are a few ways to start.

• Try combining your errands into a single trip.
• Skip the drive-thru or bring your lunch to work.
• Call a friend and share a ride to work, or take the bus or train.

Refueling

• When refueling your vehicle, stop at the "click." Spilling 1 ounce of gasoline that evaporates produces the same ozone-producing VOC emissions as a car driving 56 miles.
• Ozone, a pollutant that's hazardous to your health, forms when evaporative emissions "bake" in the heat. Refueling your car at night can help prevent formation of ozone, which will keep your lungs healthier.

Fuel Efficiency

High gas prices are a good reason to make our vehicles more fuel-efficient. Remember, small changes can have a big effect on gas mileage. Here are some suggestions:

• Aggressive driving (rapid acceleration, speeding, and quick braking) can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and 5 percent around town. Going easy on the gas and brake pedals can save you 15 cents to 96 cents per gallon!
• Driving a typical passenger vehicle at 75 mph uses 18 percent more gasoline than driving at 65 mph. That means you're paying an additional 20 cents per gallon of gas for every 5 mph over 60 mph you're driving.
• Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent - saving up to 55 gallons of gas each year.
• Next time you're shopping for a new vehicle, consider buying the most fuel- efficient one that meets your needs. Driving a vehicle that gets 30 miles per gallon rather than one that gets 20 miles per gallon would save you nearly $730 in gas a year, or more than $3,600 over five years.