Energy prices, in general, are on the rise, but the most dramatic spike has been for gasoline — up one-third over the past year, to an average $3.05 a gallon. If commuting to work by bike is unrealistic, consider these options. (For excellent tips on how to reduce all your home-energy costs, read the advice at
www.realsimple.com/cutcosts.)
Do Right Now:
Go to www.gasbuddy.com and enter your ZIP code. You’ll be connected to a network of websites that pinpoints which gas stations near you charge the lowest and highest prices. For example, a recent search of the Chicago area found a Marathon station in Oak Forest charging just $2.91 a gallon, vs. $3.53 at a downtown BP. Plan your next fill-up accordingly.
Clean out the junk in your trunk. Hauling around unneeded poundage — a case of water, tools, a spare stroller — forces your car to work harder. A hundred extra pounds in the trunk reduces fuel economy by up to 2 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). If you spend $200 a month on gas, shedding that weight can save you $48 a year.
Next Steps:
Check your oil, air filter, and tire pressure. Keeping your car well tuned can increase fuel efficiency by up to 17 percent, according to the DOE.
Treat your car like your skin. Keep it out of the sun whenever possible. That’s because gasoline can evaporate right out of the tank (especially when the cap isn’t screwed on tight), and it evaporates faster when the car is hotter. So always drive straight into the garage, rather than parking in the driveway. When doing errands, park in the shade or in a parking garage.
Buy a fuel-efficient car. When it’s time to replace the car you have, go to the DOE-run website
www.fueleconomy.gov. There you can compare the fuel efficiency of various models. You’ll find, for example, that driving a small hybrid car (average purchase cost: $22,000) for 25 miles costs $1.60 in gas, compared with about $5 for a basic four-wheel-drive SUV (average cost: $31,000). If you drive 10,000 miles a year, your savings would be nearly $1,400.
