Energy Saving Practices for the Small Business Bottom Line
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GasBuddy.com provided its list of the top 10 ways to cut fuel costs:
- Avoid high speeds – as your speed increases, your aerodynamic drag increases in an exponential fashion. Driving 62 mph versus 75 mph will reduce fuel consumption by about 15%.
- Do not accelerate or brake hard – by anticipating the traffic and applying slow steady acceleration and braking, fuel economy may increase by as much as 20%.
- Keep tires properly inflated – keep tire air pressure at the level recommended by your vehicle manufacturer. A single tire under inflated by 2 PSI, increases fuel consumption by 1%.
- Use A/C sparingly – when the air conditioner is on it puts extra load on the engine forcing more fuel to be used (by about 20%). The defrost position on most vehicles also uses the air conditioner.
- Keep windows closed – windows open, especially at highway speeds, increase drag and result in decreased fuel economy of up to 10%.
- Service vehicle regularly – proper maintenance avoids poor fuel economy related to dirty air filters, old spark plugs or low fluid levels.
- Use cruise control – maintaining a constant speed over long distances often saves gas.
- Avoid heavy loads – remove the sand bags from your trunk in the spring and pack lightly for long trips.
- Avoid long idles – if you anticipate being stopped for more than 1 minute, shut off the car. Restarting the car uses less fuel than letting it idle for this time.
- Purchase a fuel efficient vehicle – when buying a new vehicle examine the vehicle’s rated fuel efficiency. Usually choosing a small vehicle with a manual transmission will provide you with great fuel economy.
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