Alliance to Save Energy Offers Fuel-Economy Tips

WASHINGTON, April 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As Earth Day approaches and gasoline prices inch toward a painful $4 a gallon, the Alliance to Save Energy suggests that drivers use fuel efficiency to save gas, money and the environment.

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"Consumers cannot control fluctuations in global oil and gasoline prices," says Alliance President Kateri Callahan. "But they can minimize fuel use and maximize savings with proper maintenance and smart driving, as demonstrated in our short video tips."

Smart Maintenance

• Properly inflate tires to improve mileage up to 3%, or $60/year.
• Tune up regularly to improve gas mileage by 4%, or $81/year.
• Use the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil to boost mileage 1-2%.
• Unload your trunk and roof rack. An extra 100 pounds could reduce mileage up to 2%, or $40/year.

Smart Driving

• Avoid aggressive driving, which can lower mileage by 33% at highway speeds, wasting $973/year, and 5% around town, wasting $216/year.
• Slow down! Each five mph over 60 adds up to 31 cents/gallon.
• Avoid idling, which wastes up to half a gallon of gas per hour.
• Use cruise control and overdrive, as recommended by the automaker.
• Plan your trips. Several short trips begun from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a multipurpose trip with a warm engine.

Also…

• Commute during off-peak hours, if possible. 
• Consider carpools, ride-shares and public transit.
• Find more tips and resources on ase.org and fueleconomy.gov.

The Alliance to Save Energy is a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, the economy, and national security.

SOURCE Alliance to Save Energy