How to Save Money on Crazy Higher Gas Prices in 2011

Here are 5 green ways to save more money on crazy high price gas…

1. Take Public Transportation

By one estimate, the public transportation system in the United States saves 3.4 billion gallons of oil a year (and cuts greenhouse gas emissions by 26 million tons).Get your fair share of the savings by looking up the local bus route or climbing on the subway. (After all, as a taxpayer, you've already invested in the service.) Sure, it costs money to take the bus or subway. But consider this: The average U.S. commute is 16 miles, and at these prices the average U.S. passenger costs $2.26 to go 25 KM ($2.80 for an SUV), and that's roughly the cost of a typical public transit fare. It's a wash. Plus, you'll save wear and tear on your car, a hefty hidden cost of driving

2. Drive Smarter

If all else fails, you can at least drive the car you own to greater fuel-efficiency. By one estimate, you can improve fuel economy 20% by reversing bad habits. That's like spending $2.55 per gallon instead of $3.19.The gravy: Changing bad driving habits and scheduling regular vehicle maintenance lessens the pollution your car produces by burning fossil fuel. That means less smog, less asthma, less acid rain and less of a contribution to global warming. All in all is not a bad outcome from saving a few dimes.Start by inflating your tires to the recommended level. Visit your mechanic for a tune-up if you're due. Be sure to have your tires aligned, your air filter checked and your oil changed if needed. When making trips, combine errands so that the trip home from work also includes the trip to the grocery store (and thereby cuts your gas bill in half). When you're on the road, drive smoothly, accelerate slowly and don't speed. The biggest savings are in your right foot.

3. Carpool

 

You can cut your gas bills in half, right now. Share your trip to work with one other person and split the bill. That's like paying $1.60 for gas that costs $3.20 at the pump. (It's been a decade sine the actual pump price hovered in the $1.60-per-gallon range.) With a full car of four people, the cost per gallon is just $0.80! Now that sounds like real savings.

4. Trade in Your SUV

If you must drive, replace your gas guzzler with a fuel-efficient model. The most fuel-efficient car, several years running has been the hybrid Toyota Prius, which gets 50 mpg. But new electric cars like the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt get the equivalent of 100 mpg. The least fuel-efficient 2011 SUVs, the Chevrolet Suburban, and the GMC Yukon, get about 12. If you swapped that gas-guzzler for an electric car, it would be like shaving more than $3,000 from your annual fuel bill. The cost of an average commute in a Prius is about $1 at current gas prices, versus about $4 in one of those SUVs. In other words, you'll go almost four times as far on a tank of gas in the Prius, so the $3.19 you pay to fill your SUV is like paying $0.80 in the Prius.

5. Walk, Bike or E-Bike

Keep your wallet fat and your pants loose. Whenever possible, walk or bike. If your commute is a little too long to manage, try an electric bike, which provides an electric boost. Every mile you pedal or stride saves you gas, save you money and helps you stay in shape. If you trade in a trip in the average car, you'd save about $2 per average commute. (Use the money to buy a new umbrella for rainy days.)