Driving toward better fuel efficiency; becoming stewards for the earth

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Eric Johnson
  • 341st Civil Engineer Squadron
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, MOnt. --  Editor's Note: This is the first article in a two-part series of articles addressing fuel and energy saving tips. The next article will appear Aug. 22 and will focus home energy efficiency and recycling. 

Have you ever run into a store or your house and left the engine running (idling) for more than 15 seconds? 

Have you taken multiple short trips for different chores on several days when one trip might have completed all of your chores? 

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you are not as green as you could be. 

Here are some pointers to make Malmstrom more energy efficient and help you become better stewards of Planet Earth. Many of these pointers apply to both work and personal life. 

Vehicle tips:
Idling car: People you should never idle their car for more than 15 seconds. It not only wastes gas, pollutes the air, but also ruins the vehicle's engine over the long haul. It doesn't warm up the engine/car properly; only driving the car (in gear) warms up the engine properly. Even on very cold mornings idling a car for 10 minutes will probably not warm up the inside of the car as fast as five minutes of driving. 

Does the car need to be idling because people want to leave the air conditioning on with the windows rolled up? Actually, people should roll down the windows and shut the engine off to save fuel. The bottom line: Idling = 0 miles per gallon, so shut off the car's engine if idling more than 15 seconds. 

· BE GREEN 15 - idle for 15 seconds and no more. 

· Do not leave the vehicle idling when running into the house, store, etc. 

· If stopped at a train crossing, traffic light, "express line" for fast food, etc. for more than 15 seconds, turn off your engine. 

Combine trips: It is better to make many trips to complete several chores in one short span such as a couple of hours, especially when the engine is warm, than to make one trip each on several days. Longer trips warm the engine better and should be taken first before the shorter trips. Shorter trips in which the engine is not allowed to warm up properly (usually takes about a 20 to 30 mile trip driving at 50-60 mph) will ruin the engine over a shorter span of time than if drivers allowed it to warm up better. 

· Combine many small trips into one day of trips; run the vehicle more when the engine is warm. 

Acceleration and deceleration: The smoother people accelerate and slow down, the more gas efficiency they will have. Don't overload the engine with too much fuel on jack rabbit accelerations and allow the engine and the friction of the road to slow down; it saves gas if people let up on the accelerator. 

· Take off evenly and avoid jack rabbit and "look at me" starts. 

· Let up on the accelerator well before you have to slow down; let the engine slow you down. 

Efficient speed and aerodynamics: A vehicle is more efficient at a certain speed. 

Vehicles vary on that speed but a good rule of thumb is 60 mph. For best results, set the cruise control on longer trips on the open road. People can save 25 percent fuel 

efficiency by driving 55 mph as opposed to 75 mph. Stay at steady speeds in city driving; excessive slowing and accelerating will use up much more gas. 

If it is too hot in the vehicle, roll down the windows and drive away until about 45 mph. Then close the windows and put on the air conditioning. At that speed, aerodynamics mean more to efficiency than an engine overloaded on AC. It has been proven that leaving the tailgates of pickup trucks up improve aerodynamics and gas mileage. 

· Drive at a steady speed of 60 mph and use cruise control when possible. 

· Drive steady with little or no change in speeds in city driving. 

· In summer when it is hot in the vehicle, roll down the windows instead of using AC. 

· When the vehicle reaches about 45 mph, roll up windows. 

Vehicle load and tire inflation: Gas mileage is affected by heavy vehicle loads, so unload the excess weight as soon as possible to improve gas mileage. The same rule of thumb goes for tire inflation. People should bring the tire inflation up to manufacturer's requirement; underinflated tires create too much friction and drag. 

· Remove loads from vehicles as soon as you can; do not drive with a load for an extended period of time. 

· Check the tire inflation at least once a month and keep them fully inflated. 

Car pool or walk it: People should try carpooling once a week, once every two weeks, or just pick the frequency that works best for them. Walking is also an option in many cases; however, people become so used to the easy way out by unwittingly jumping in their cars for a half-mile trip. 

· Walk the short distances. 

· Carpool whenever possible. 

Related links:
http://www.malmstrom.af.mil/news/story_print.asp?id=123044245
http://www.malmstrom.af.mil/news/story_print.asp?id=123084343
http://www.malmstrom.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123084874