Preventing Ozone:
Fueling Vehicles
Everyone can help reduce ground-level ozone levels and make the air we breathe cleaner. And there’s an added benefit… you can save money at the same time! Here are three easy steps to reduce your fuel costs:
- REFUEL in the evenings. The cooler temperatures after the sun goes down means more fuel goes into your car and less goes out into the air in the form of gas fumes.
- STOP at the click. Filling past the click only puts fuel in the hose -- not your car. When you keep forcing gas into your tank, it also forces gas fumes out into the air and cancels out the benefits of the fuel dispenser's anti-pollution device.
- MAINTAIN your vehicle. The better you maintain the condition of your vehicle, the farther your fuel will go and the more money you will save overall. Focus on things such as properly inflated tires, changing the oil and getting regular tune-ups as recommended.
When driving around town or on longer road trips, keep these tips in mind:
- TURN it off! Unnecessary idling wastes gas and pollutes our air! Be good to your body and the air by parking that car and walk into banks and fast-food restaurants instead of sitting in the drive-through lane.
- CARPOOL. Drive your car less by joining forces with neighbors or coworkers going to the same workplace or area. This will reduce everyone's gas costs as well as cutting back on traffic congestion and pollution. Not to mention reinforcing or making new friendships.
- WALK or RIDE a bike. Get out there and enjoy the sun and fresh air! There are several trails in the area for walking and biking. Doing this a few times a week will improve the condition of your health, your wallet and our Summer Air.
Electric vehicles (EV's) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV's) emit little to no emissions and overall have a superior fuel economy than gas-dependent vehicles. With the production of EV's and PHEV's set to increase over the next few years, their prices will gradually decrease with the cost of fueling already being mostly cheaper than fueling a conventional vehicle. Charging stations are not as easy to locate as gas stations but can be found at several public locations.
Click here to locate a nearby charging station.
(Source: U.S. Department of Energy)
Updated: August 7, 2018
Click below to watch the Fueling video: