EcoGreenOffice Green Blog: Best Ways to Green Your Drive to Work

From biking, to taking the bus, using an alternative mode of transportation for getting to work is best for reducing your carbon footprint. With rising gas prices, avoiding the car is also the most practical for the wallet.

However, there are likely days when taking the car is the only option. By following these green tips, you can make your drive to work as environmentally responsible as possible.

1) Sharing a ride with a coworker is an obvious one, but also consider checking out Zimride, an upstart company that uses social media as a platform to connect drivers with people who need rides.

2) Maintain steady driving speeds and avoid sudden stops and starts.

3) Combine trips and run errands on the way home from work, rather than making a separate trip over the weekend.

4) Don’t weigh your car down and use it as a storage space. A lighter load equals a better fuel economy.

5) Because a loose fitting gas cap allows gas to evaporate into the air, make sure the gas cap fits tightly.

6) Check tire pressure and look for the optimal pressure in your car’s manual. Tires that aren’t properly inflated add rolling resistance, making your engine work harder to more the vehicle.

7) Get regular tune-ups. This can save you 4 percent on the cost of gas and up to 40 percent by replacing a faulty oxygen sensor. Changing the car’s air filter can improve efficiency by up to 10 percent.

8) Use ecofriendly recycled motor oil. Pellman’s Automotive Service in Boulder, Colorado suggests EcoPower Synthetic Motor Oil. This oil is created using a close-loop system, meaning the oil can be repeatedly recycled, and the manufacturing process used to make the oil takes 85 percent less energy to produce than conventional oil.