Think Before You Drive

Many people agonize over buying the most fuel-efficient vehicle possible. But when they start driving that new gas miser, all their fuel-efficiency awareness often goes out the window.

They hop in the car to return last night's DVD, come home, drive to the park to take the dog for a walk, come home, go grocery shopping, come home, drive across town to meet a friend for a drink - and on it goes. In such a scenario, a busy hybrid can be worse for the environment than an idle SUV.

"A vehicle that isn't being driven doesn't pollute or burn fuel," says John Rilett, Climate Change Central's director of energy efficiency. "If you can use alternative transportation or drive less, that counts in a big way."

Even if you can't commute to work by carpooling, cycling or taking public transit, you can still significantly cut the number of times you use your vehicle and the mileage you pile up. All it takes is a bit of planning and discipline.

When you go grocery shopping, chances are you take a list accumulated over a number of days. Try the same with your driving. Write down a list of all the errands you have to run over the next few days and try to combine as many as you can in one trip. Another strategy is to organize your trips by geographic area, grouping several errands to the same area.

Ask yourself this: Do I really need to go shopping on both Saturday and Sunday, or can I spend one precious weekend day at home, without having to jump in the car? If you do need to get out of the house for nearby errands, going on foot or by bicycle can simultaneously provide some fresh air and exercise.

As our lives and roads become busier, driving can be an increasingly stressful experience. Wouldn't it be nice to occasionally reduce that stress and, at the same time, do something nice for our wallets and air quality?

Tip: Running errands early in the morning or in the evening usually means encountering less traffic, which reduces idling and makes driving more pleasant.