52 Ways to Save the Planet: #9: “Reduce Gasoline Consumption 20% - Improve your mpg rating”

A weekly series of common sense ways to reduce wasteful habits, while saving you time, money and…well, self respect.

Fact#1: In his 2007 State of the Union address, President Bush called for Americans to “reduce gasoline usage in the United States by 20 percent in the next 10 years.”

Fact #2: “A 3-mpg increase in fuel economy would save 1 million barrels of oil per day, save consumers as much as $25 billion per year in fuel costs, and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 140 million tons per year” – National Resources Defense Council

We all know we should reduce fuel consumption, to slow the growth of global warming gasses and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. (And maybe save some money for ourselves!)

It shouldn’t be that hard, as fuel consumption per dollar of GNP is 40% higher in the US than in France and several other European countries. (With 3% of the world’s population, the US consumes 25% of the world’s oil production.)

But let’s not wait until 2017. Let’s each of us cut our own gasoline consumption by 20% today, or at least within the next three years. Impossible you say? Well, consider:

Improve your mpg rating

- Let’s say your Jeep Grand Cherokee is rated 13 MPG. Replacing that gas guzzler with a 16 mpg gas guzzler would reduce your gasoline consumption by 20%. How about hybrid versions of the Toyota Highlander or Lexus 400H at 30 mpg? (Or 33 mpg on the Ford Escape, a smaller SUV hybrid. Buy American!)

- Almost any car you have now can be replaced with a car that gets better mileage [http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/byMPG.htm] Make it a requirement on your next purchase.

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planet@americantowns.com