News Flash! Gas prices are high! In case you didn’t know that, you need to watch the news more, or at least go out more. Many people are dealing with this in unique ways, including hypermiling, which involves getting the most fuel efficiency out of your vehicle, using everything from physics to actually driving the speed limit. Others, are thinking about putting the car away altogether.
My wife and I are are also dealing with high gas prices here in Canada, and one concept we have come up with for Our Green Year is the One Tank Challenge. Naturally, this is not something everyone can do because of work and commuting, but it helps people to learn about ways that they can save gas and help the environment as well. What is the One Tank Challenge?
Put simply, it involves filling up with gas only once per month and committing yourself to it. My wife and I work from home and live in a small town, so it is a bit easier for us, but many people in the city can do this as well. It works like this, if you fill up with 1/2 tank on August 1, then you still have a half tank to fill up later in the month. If you fill up an entire tank on August 1, then that is all you get, except for emergencies where you need to go out but did not plan on it (medical being the best example).
How can you save gas so that you only fill up once per month? Here are some helpful tips:
- Only drive to work once a week if you can. Take public transit the rest of the time. If you do this, make your once a week drive to work on a Friday.
- Try Hypermiling. This is a growing phenomenon in North America and a quick search online can give you more than enough ideas for saving gas with your car, including driving behind semi-trucks to cut down on air resistance and coasting down hills instead of driving.
- Walk when you can. Instead of driving to the store, go for a nice stroll. You get exercise and you get fresh air. Sure it takes you longer, and you may be tired afterward, but it is good for you and the environment.
- Buy a fuel-efficient or hybrid car. They are coming down in price and there really is no better time than now for dealing with high gas prices.
- Carpool as much as you can. You can easily share a ride with someone to work and elsewhere, and there are even websites like CarPool.ca to help you line up a good car pool to work or elsewhere.
- Buy a bike.
It is a changing world out there, and it is time for everyone to begin thinking of ways that will help them save money on gas, while saving the environment at the same time. Can you take the One Tank Challenge?
