5 Ways to Make Your Morning Commute Cost Less

Unless you’re lucky enough to work from home, you probably need some form of transport to get to your job each day. This can have a detrimental effect on the environment, as well as your wallet. Taking steps to be more eco-friendly can really pay off.

You probably know that public transport or cycling can help reduce the amount of energy used during your daily commute. However, you can reduce your carbon footprint even if you take your own car to work each day.

1. Choose a fuel-friendly vehicle. Vehicles come in a range of sizes and types, so pick an economical version. The more miles to the gallon you get, the less you spend and the less pollution you create.

Many people think of electric cars when they think of eco-friendly vehicles. However, most new cars come with energy saving features to save fuel. Any car over five years old will be much less efficient than a new model.

2. Give your car a facelift. You don’t necessarily need to buy a new car to improve its fuel efficiency. There are some ways to accomplish this just by tweaking a few features. For example, wheels, tires and suspension-related components can either harm or hurt gas mileage. Replace more aggressive tread tires (like mud terrain) with all-terrain. This switch doesn’t have to cost a lot if you opt for the replica wheels route—just make sure to do your homework. Check the company’s reviews before buying and ask if the wheel you’re considering passes the necessary quality inspection tests like (ISO and TUV) to ensure the parts you’re buying are safe for the road.

2. Carpool. Sharing your ride is a fairly common suggestion for reducing the cost of driving, as well as its impact on the environment. It is worth repeating, because it is such a good idea. By taking just one person with you to work, you cut your combined carbon emissions in half. You can increase the savings by adding more people.

One thing to consider when carpooling is how much fuel it will take to pick everyone up. It may not be economical to drive to each person’s house. An alternative is to arrange for a common meeting place where you can pick them up.

3. Shift your work hours. Rush hour means you could end up idling in traffic jams for an hour or two. You can reduce your carbon footprint and save on fuel by avoiding rush hour. Talk to your employer about the possibility of shifting your hours at work. Perhaps you could come in an hour or two later and stay later.

4. Drive at the right speed. Most cars use the least amount of fuel at 50 mph or lower. Increasing your speed by just 10 miles an hour can boost your fuel consumption by 15%. Larger vehicles do best with lower speeds. It shouldn’t be difficult to drive the speed limit in most areas and stay efficient.

5. Turn off the air conditioning. Unless you absolutely need it, you should keep the air conditioning off. It uses quite a bit of fuel to run the cooling system. Open the windows if you need some air and are driving at 50 mph or less. Above 50 mph, it becomes more economical to keep the windows closed to reduce drag and turn on the air.

You can increase savings by reducing all electrical loads, as well as turning off the air conditioning. Keep lights, radio and other items turned off unless necessary.

Commuting every day can have a major effect on your wallet. Keep your costs down and make your commute more eco-friendly by tweaking your commute just a little. It’s also important to ensure that your vehicle is well maintained to avoid wasting fuel.