Climate Change and Global Warming are two of the most pressing issues of the society today. Many efforts to aid it and minimize the human’s contribution to worsening its state are being made across different nations and different industries. According to studies, one of the biggest contributing factor to these environmental issues are brought about by cars, specifically its carbon emissions which is one of the most prominent factors that further worsens its condition.
Over the years and after countless studies about the best solution, car manufacturers have offered one of the best suited key to reduce vehicles’ hazardous impacts to the environment: hybrid and electric cars. While it is agreeable to be the best case, it is undeniably expensive and ultimately not for everyone.
Luckily, you don’t need the latest techy car cut down on your car’s carbon footprint. Here are nine proven ways to make your car more eco-friendly, regardless of make, model, or year.
Fill under-inflated Tires
Did you know that your car tires’ air pressure can contribute to the saving of the earth? Studies find that under-inflated tires don’t roll as efficiently as fully inflated ones, making your engine work harder just to get them rolling. Because of this, your car burns more fuel and emits more carbon monoxide. More over, properly filled tires also last longer so keeping them topped off reduces the number of tires that end up in landfills, and you’ll also be saving money on gas. It’s best to get in the habit of checking your tires at least once a month.
While the correct pressure varies between tires and cars, it is your duty to maintain the correct one for your vehicle. This is one of the easiest things you can do to boost your fuel economy, and reduce the negative impacts of driving to the environment.
Remove the Extra Weight
Notice that your car moves slower and burns more fuel when there’s cargo in it? It is proven that the more your car weighs, the more fuel it uses. And if you use up more fuel, there will be more carbon emission, which consequently destroys the earth little by little. If there’s extra stuff going with you everywhere you drive, leave the load at home. Keep only the essentials and drop the habit of making your car an extension of the storage room or the garage.
Use Air Conditioning less often
Limit your usage of your car’s air conditioning unit. It may be hard to resist it during the summer and warmer months, but keep in mind that blasting it open for long periods of time will have severely negative impacts for earth. A/C increases the strain on your car’s electrical system, which makes the engine work harder to compensate, leading to higher fuel consumption.
What you can do is invest in other measures that can make your car interior more comfortable during those months. One of the best investments you can get is car window tinting. With the right window tint, you can reduce the heat inside your car in the scorching summer months by up to 60%. A cooler interior provides more comfort, and can significantly reduce air conditioning usage, thus extending the life of AC systems and lessening your gas consumption. For short, comfort and savings, made possible by car tint!
Fill Up the Right Way
It may not be obvious but the way you put fuel in your car actually makes a difference. Did you know that topping off your tank with a little extra after the pump stops increases the chance of harmful vapors escaping your tank. Modern cars have an emissions canister that’s designed to prevent fuel vapors from leaking into the atmosphere. Topping off your tank forces liquid fuel into the canister, reducing its effectiveness. Too much overfilling could make it completely useless.
Everybody should put in efforts and lend a hand in saving their home planet. Contrary to popular misconceptions, taking little steps as simple as this can let you contribute to earth’s saving from climate change. You don’t need to spend millions to have some positive impact. You just need some information and a little sacrifice to make it work.
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