What you can do – 10 Gas Saving Tips.

Back in the 1970’s, after the second energy crisis (1978) when gas prices rose to $0.65/gallon and we thought it was outrageous, I became a DOE-certified GasCAP (Gas Conservation Awareness Program) trainer. I taught people how to drive fuel-efficiently through a short classroom seminar and then behind-the-wheel driver’s training. Some of the tips I shared then are just as appropriate now even with the much higher mileage cars and hybrids we have to day. With these tips you can save even more and reduce costs, smog, and greenhouse gasses.

10 Stages of Mindfulness Driving

1. Drive less – ask yourself, “Do I really need to drive somewhere?” If you, don’t don’t! If you do, do it mindfully.
2. Stop driving. Walk, ride a bike, or use mass transit. Great benefits, it more healthy, reduces greenhouses gases, and saves you money, and besides your friends are doing it too.
3. Work from home, telecommute. Most of us are used to this now because of Covid. Now we might be doing this to reduce gasoline consumption.
4. Carpool – use other people’s energy. Talk to your co-workers can you share rides and costs to work or school?
5. Mindful driving. Pretend like there is an egg between your foot and the gas pedal, press too hard and you will crush it, keep it easy and you won’t waste energy.
6. Accelerate less and coast more. Stop and go driving is a fuel sucker. Accelerate gradually and coast as far as you can. This will increase your mileage and get you to where you are going in the same amount of time.
7. Facetime/Zoom your friends. Electrons are cheaper than gasoline. Things we learned how to do to social distance will work on saving energy and reduce driving.
8. Drive energy-efficient vehicles. We have better choices of vehicles today in terms of fuel efficiency than we have ever had, yet the number of gas consuming trucks and SUVs are astounding. Think about buying an electric vehicle, especially if all your driving in local.
9. Inflate tires to their proper level. Harder tires reduces rolling resistance, low tires increases it.
10. Don’t waste gas warming your car up or letting it idle. Cars warm up better when they are moving and don’t need to be warmed up before you drive them.