May 18, 2012 by Elaine Loyack, Program Coordinator

Every time we visit my family in Myrtle Beach, S.C.  we stop to fill our tank at the Flying J on Highway 38, where gas is typically 20 cents less expensive than prices in the Research Triangle Region, before getting onto I-95 North to head back home.  But that’s where our savings end, according to Rick Sapienza, Clean Transportation Specialist at the North Carolina Solar Center.  Mr. Sapienza presented “Drive Green, Save Green” to the Charlotte Area NC Air Awareness Coalition Training May 10, 2012 on the topic of ecodriving, during which time I learned just how inefficient our typical drive up the I-95 corridor is.  Here are some reasons why:

1. For every 5 MPH we drive over 60 MPH, our fuel economy decreases 7-10%. The speed limit along the stretch of 95 we drive between Highway 38 and I-40 is mostly 70 MPH.  Driving any slower than 75 MPH in that zone actually seems to put us at higher risk of being rear-ended.
2. Frequent braking reduces fuel economy. It’s I-95, one of the most traveled roads in the U.S., so we’re guaranteed congestion along the way, and, therefore more braking.
3. Bursts of speed reduce fuel economy. So, there is that occasional person who does actually obey the speed limit, or, heaven forbid, drive below it, and we can’t wait for a break in the flow of traffic in the left lane to get around that driver.  Maybe we want to take out our frustration on the gas pedal, or, I hate to admit it, maybe the break in traffic really isn’t that big, so we punch the gas, move into the left lane and whiz past the slower driver, triuMPHant.
4. Aggressive driving reduces fuel economy. See my example in #3.

Now, here are some strategies Mr. Sapienza recommended that will increase our fuel efficiency and make the money we saved on our last fill-up stretch farther on our drive home:

1. Anticipate traffic flow. This effectively addresses numbers 2-4 above.  Keeping an eye on the cars farther ahead of us on the road will help us judge when we need to make an adjustment in our speed.  These adjustments can be made more gradually, burning less fuel.
2. Maintain a steady speed. Using cruise control can increase fuel efficiency by approximately 7%.  According to the US Department of Transportation, we can save approximately 20 cents per gallon when we drive using cruise control.
3. Shift early. If I still had my beloved stick-shift, or manual transmission, car, I’d need to shift gears around 2000 RPM to maximize my fuel economy.
4. Keep tires inflated to recommended pressure. Low tire pressure can reduce fuel efficiency by 0.3% for every 1 PSI drop in all 4 tires.  In the U.S., we waste approximately 1.2 billion gallons of gasoline per year, due to underinflated tires.
5. Practice “smart cooling.” Use the 40 MPH rule:  When driving under 40 MPH, open the windows (weather permitting); when driving over 40 MPH, use the air conditioner.  Driving at higher speeds with our windows down creates drag, and makes our cars work harder and burn more fuel to maintain the speed we want to drive.  Using our air conditioners at the maximum setting at lower rates of speed decreases our fuel efficiency by approximately 5-25%.
6. Lighten your load. I’m not talking about leaving a passenger behind.  Obviously, when we travel for overnight stays, we pack luggage.  But anything else that’s not necessary but adds significantly to the weight of the car gets left at home.  For every 100 pounds extra we carry, we reduce our fuel efficiency by up to 2% (which is why my husband no longer “stores” his golf clubs in the trunk of his car).
7. Turn off your engine. It’s only about a three and a half hour drive between here and Myrtle Beach, but, depending on the time of day, we may get hungry and pull off the road at a fast food restaurant.  Instead of idling our engine waiting in the drive-through lane, we park and go inside.  For every 2 minutes of idling, we consume the same amount of gas it takes to drive 1 mile.  Besides, it’s nice to get out and stretch our legs.

We look forward to seeing just how far we can stretch that tank of gas from the Flying J home using Mr. Sapienza’s green driving tips on our next trip to see my family.  In fact, maybe I’ll issue a challenge to my husband—we take turns driving on these trips, with one of us driving down and the other driving back:  whoever burns the least amount of fuel on her or his drive is treated to dinner by the other, paid for with the money we save by our increased fuel efficiency, of course!

For more suggestions for fuel efficient driving habits, visit these websites:

• http://www.fueleconomy.gov/

• http://www.epa.gov/smartway/vehicles/driving-tips.htm

April 24, 2012 by Christina Motley, Guest Bogger

Triangle Air Awareness kicked off Ozone Forecast Season with it annual kick-off luncheon April 13 at IBM’s Recreation Center in the Research Triangle Park. The event drew a full house and record attendance, with more than 50 companies and
organizations represented.

The public/private partnership effort of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Research Triangle Regional Partnership, hosts the event as part of its effort to educate the community and promote practices that improve air quality across the 13-county region.

Here are the top takeaways from the event, says program coordinator Elaine Loyack:

1. IBM encourages alternative commuting. Learn more about IBMs environmental leadership commitment and why the Triangle is one of the Best Workplaces for Commuters.
2. DENR reports that air quality in the Research Triangle Region has improved to now meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards for ground-level ozone pollution.
3. The Mecklenberg County officials shared lessons learned from its community-based social marketing campaign to drive behavior change and improve energy efficiency. The effort was hugely successful and is attracting national attention. The Light’s Out Tool Kit offers everything needed for a workplace campaign.
4. When considering behavioral change campaigns, Mecklenburg County officials say, “Make it personal, make it fun!”
5. Jennifer Smith from ShareFile/Citrix shared four tips for social media success: deliver relevant content; develop meaningful relationships online, share pictures and links, don’t be a spammer.
6. Raleigh, N.C. is a leader for plug-in electric vehicles, second only to California.  Learn more from the U.S. Department of Energy.
7. Advanced Energy reported that workplace charging is a new trend in the Triangle, which now has  more than 20 charging stations.
8. The Triangle population is 1.5 million. The average one-way commute is 16.2 miles. One of every seven workers in Wake County commutes daily to a job in Orange or Durham County. Driving electric vehicles can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and encourage cleaner, renewable energy.
9. There are 3 types of electric vehicles: hybrid electric, such as the Toyota Prius; plug-in hybrid electric, such as the Chevy Volt; and all-electric, such as the Nissan LEAF.
10. In the 13-county Research Triangle Region, cars and trucks are the No. 1 source of ozone-forming emissions.

Christina Motley is a strategic, integrated marketer and award-winning writer.  Connect with her via her website, LinkedIn and Twitter @christinamotley.