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GREEN TIP
OF THE MONTH: Improve Your Fuel Economy
Half of all energy usage in the United States goes to
what the U.S. Department of Energy deems the residential
sector, which includes home energy and transportation
energy. Personally owned vehicles account for 65% of all
transportation energy, which essentially amount to lots
of energy and lots of greenhouse gases. Not only will
improving your fuel economy save you money, it will cut
back on global warming. According to the Environmental
Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, a
typical car owner can potentially improve their car's
fuel economy by 20%. Regularly replacing dirty air
filters improves efficiency by 10%, getting a regular
tuneup improves efficiency by 4%, keeping tires inflated
at recommended pressure levels improves fuel economy by
3%, and using recommended oil grades improves efficiency
by 2%. And next time you buy tires, consider low rolling
resistance tires. Designed to minimize energy loss
between the tire surface and the road, low rolling
resistance tires can improve fuel economy by 6%.
Although they cost a little extra to purchase, fuel
savings amount to $75 to $100 per year, thus offsetting
the extra money in under a year.
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