Help the Bay on the Road

We often think of the Bay's pollution problems in terms of water pollution. However, air pollution is a huge contributor to the Bay's poor health, because what goes into the air must eventually come back down.

Vehicles are a large part of this problem. Americans drive about 2.5 trillion miles per year, consuming one-quarter of the world's oil. Every time you drive, nitrogen oxides (NOx) from your engine are deposited onto the pavement or into the air. When this pollutant makes its way into the Bay or its tributaries, it fuels the growth of algae blooms and increases water acidity.

If you'd like to help make the air a little cleaner (while saving gas and money!), check out the following tips.

• Reduce the amount of miles you drive: Fewer miles driven means fewer nutrients and chemical contaminants are coming from your car and entering the Bay or one of its rivers.
  • Plan trips carefully to minimize the amount of miles you drive. Combine errands to avoid extra trips.
  • Walk, bike or use public transportation whenever possible.
  • Join a carpool or participate in a regional ride-sharing program to get to work. Seventy-five percent of all trips to and from work are in single-passenger vehicles.
  • Consider telecommuting for work.

• Purchase a fuel-efficient automobile: You'll get farther on less gas and keep more money in your pocket!

• Observe the speed limit: Fuel economy decreases at speeds above 55 miles per hour. Over 50 percent of the energy required to move your car down a highway goes to overcoming aerodynamic drag (pushing air out of the way). As you drive faster, aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance increase.

• Use cruise control: This helps you maintain a constant speed, and, in most cases, will reduce your fuel consumption.

• Use overdrive gears: When you use overdrive gearing, your car's engine speed decreases. This reduces both fuel consumption and engine wear.

• Maintain your car: Maximize fuel efficiency by keeping your car maintained and your car's tires properly inflated. Also, follow your state's guidelines on emissions testing and maintain any pollution-control devices.
  • On average, tires lose about 1 psi per month and 1 psi for every 10-degree drop in temperature. Properly inflate and align tires to save gas and reduce wear and tear.
  • Snow tires may improve fuel economy in the winter by giving you better traction, but will cost you fuel and money in the summer.
  • Clogged air filters can cause a significant increase in fuel consumption.

• Anticipate traffic situations: In city driving, nearly 50 percent of the energy needed to power your car goes to acceleration. Unnecessary braking wastes that energy. Also, hard acceleration causes your engine to enter a less efficient “fuel enrichment mode” of operation. Accelerate gently and evenly to maximize fuel efficiency.

• Avoid unnecessary idling: Most cars today don't need time to "warm up." Unnecessary idling wastes fuel, costs you money and pollutes the air, no matter how efficient your car is.

• Dispose of used motor oil and antifreeze properly: Contain these fluids and transport them to a gas station or landfill with an oil recycling program. Antifreeze is highly toxic and may cause harm or death to animals and pets if consumed.

• Wash your car on grass: By doing so, any detergents will be filtered by grass, reducing the amount that enter your nearest stream or stormwater drain.

• Use your vehicle's flow-through vents instead of air conditioning: Using air conditioning or opening your car's windows to stay cool can decrease your fuel efficiency by 21 percent.