• do your errands by the most efficient route
• avoid peak-hour traffic times if possible
• avoid delays which may cause unnecessary idling (road construction, trains, traffic jams)
• avoid steep hills
• give yourself lots of time. Racing against the clock causes hard braking and quick acceleration and fast driving - all which waste fuel
• in the city, open a window instead of using the air conditioner

Drive safely:

• drive with courtesy and not aggressively. Fast starts and hard braking only reduce travel time by 2.5 minutes for the average hour-long trip. You also use 39% more fuel, and produce as much as 5 time more exhaust emissions
• anticipate what may happen ahead and drive accordingly (red lights, stalled traffice, stop signs)
• drive at the posted speed limit. Increasing your speed limit from 100km/h to 120 km/h will increase fuel consumption by about 20%. In the city 60 kph is the most fuel efficient speed

Reduce idling by:

• turning off the engine when waiting in a traffic queue for more than 10 seconds
• warm up your vehicle by driving it. Vehicles usually need only 30 seconds of idling time on winter days before driving. Consult your vehicle's manual
• use a block heater with a timer during the winter. One or two hours are usually adequate
• shut off your vehicle when you are not in it

Maintain your vehicle:

• check your tire pressure especially during the winter. With under-inflated tires, your vehicle can use up to 3% more fuel (www.betiresmart.ca/)
• ensure your vehicle is tuned and serviced regularly. A poorly maintained vehicle uses up to 50% more fuel and produces up to 50% more greenhouse gas emissions than a vehicle that is serviced regularly

Put your vehicle on a diet and lose weight:

• remove unneeded heavy objects like sand bags for the spring, summer and fall
• remove sports equipment from the trunk
• remove ski racks, roof racks, bike racks and similar add-ons when you are not using them. They spoil the vehicles aerodynamics and create drag which uses more fuel

On the highway:

• drive smoothly. Use the cruise control if possible
• if you have manual transmission, shift up to the next gear as soon as possible to get best fuel savings
• keep windows closed and use the vehicle's flow-through ventilation
• use the air conditioner only when absolutely necessary. It can use up to 10% more fuel
• reduce your speed. Traveling at 110 k/h uses up to 25% more fuel than cruising at 90 km/h

Use an ethanol blend gasoline when you refuel

When buying a vehicle:

• whether old or new, consult the fuel consumption sticker and choose a fuel-efficient vehicle from the class of vehicle that best suits your needs
• consider buying an electric hybrid vehicle or a small vehicle and renting a larger vehicle for the occasional long trip, if needed
• Buying a vehicle that's 25% more fuel efficient could save you $360 on an average annual gasoline bill of $1440.

Sources:

Environment Canada, National Office of Pollution Prevention http://www.ec.gc.ca/nopp/docs/fact/en/index.cfm accessed 9/7/2004

Natural Resources Canada, Transportation http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/vehicles/tips/tips_driving.cfm accessed 9/7/2004

Greenfleet, Transport and Environment http://www.greenfleet.com/transport/41.asp accessed 9/72004