Less gas

Less gas = less greenhouse gas pollution

Carol Roszek uses her tire pressure gauge to check her tires. Keeping tires properly

inflated saves gas and helps tires last longer.

Is the high cost of gasoline burning a hole in your pocket? Here are some ways you can help your car use less gas. Besides saving money, burning less gas means less greenhouse gas pollution.

Check your tire pressure regularly. Especially check before long trips and before carrying heavy loads. For every 3 pounds below the recommended pressure, fuel economy goes down about 1 percent. An added bonus for properly inflated tires is that they will last longer. You can easily see what the recommended pressure is by looking at the sticker inside the drivers door. Pump Your Ride is a fun two minute video (www.wecansolveit.org/content/video/pump_your_ride) about keeping your tires properly inflated.

Consider buying low-rolling-resistance (LRR) tires when you need replacements. LRR tires can improve your vehicles fuel economy by as much as 4 percent.

Unload your cargo area. Carrying unnecessary weight makes your engine work harder and reduces your fuel economy.

Check your fuel economy regularly. If your miles per gallon has decreased, it may be a sign, for example, that you need a tune up or have dragging brakes.

Change your air filter, oil, and oil filter regularly. Get regular tune ups. Keep your wheels properly aligned. Not only is regular maintenance good for your car, it is good for your gas milage as well.

Take off the removal roof rack when not in use. This decreases wind resistance. When you have the option, put luggage in your vehicle instead of on top.

Use an “air gate” when driving a pickup truck. This also decreases wind resistance, especially on the highway.

When buying a new or used vehicle, get one that is fuel efficient. You can compare models at epa.gov/smartway.