Groxie

I hope everyone had some time off to enjoy the company of family and friends. I’ve been thinking about all of the traveling we’ve been doing lately, and we’re starting to plan our 50 hour drive out to Portland later this month. I want to make sure we do as much as we can to lighten the trip’s burden on us and on the environment, and I thought I’d share a few tips.

Don’t Drive Like a Jerk

A while ago I briefly mentioned an article from Edmunds that tested out some of the most common tips to save gas while driving. There were a few key changes in driving behavior that netted big savings: driving moderately instead of aggressively, going the speed limit instead of speeding, using cruise control, and avoiding excess idling all rack up the gas savings. Using the numbers from the article, Orrin at Terrapass estimates savings of over $500 a year for drivers who follow the tips.

Snuggle Up and Relax

I used to get very nervous around big semis on the highway, but John has taught me to use them to my advantage. When we’re on a long road trip, we snuggle up (not too close!) behind a truck. We stay far enough away that any drafting benefit is probably minimal, but we also benefit from being able to follow a large, well–lit vehicle going a consistent speed. This is especially helpful at night. Finding a good semi buddy prevents me from trying to speed up and race around them constantly—I just relax and enjoy the drive much more.

Avoid Gas Station Grub and Fast Food

Another place you can lighten up your impact on a roadtrip is to buy less disposable packaging. Fast food is, unfortunately, an indispensable part of traveling for many of us. Frequent gas station stops compel us to grab another bottle of water or soda, maybe a bag of chips, too. In addition to making us feel like crud, this kind of consumption isn’t great for the planet.

Even if you can’t avoid all of the wrapped sandwiches and drink bottles, you can cut down your use of them with a little pre–trip planning. Bring a glass or stainless steel bottle to refill with water. A cooler is great for adding in hummus, drinks, carrots, cottage cheese, and tons of snacks that add up to a light lunch or dinner. Even if you don’t have a cooler, you can pack up crackers, granola, trail mix, PB&J sandwiches, fruit, and all sorts of other goodies.

Feeling Ambitious?

Your car might be able to use flex fuel. My car doesn’t fit the bill, so I don’t have any personal experience with this one. You can see if your car is compatible, and if it is, you can get a list of flex fuel stations by state or city.