It’s your first time on a road trip and you’re not sure how to make the most of it. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to make it fun and eco-friendly. That way, you’ll be able to enjoy yourself without having any regrets later! Here are six earth And eco-friendly auto & road trip tips to make your road trip better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last year marked a turning point in which Earth-friendly alternative-fuel and hybrid vehicles gained major attention. On top of that, the AAA Great Battery Roundup collected more than 20,000 used vehicle batteries and disposed of them in an environmentally sound manner.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But you don’t need to have old batteries lying around or buy a different vehicle to protect the environment. Accordingly, you can adopt two easy-to-implement strategies: regular vehicle maintenance and better driving habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keep your engine running at peak performance in order to conserve fuel. Perform regular vehicle maintenance at the intervals recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer. Seek timely service if the “check engine” warning light remains illuminated on the dash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To find a trustworthy repair facility, ask friends for recommendations or search on www.aaa.com<\/a> for AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities near you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check the air pressure in your car’s tires regularly. Underinflated tires require your engine to work harder and use more fuel to maintain a given speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have your vehicle’s air conditioning serviced only by technicians who are certified to properly handle and recycle automotive refrigerants. Older air conditioning systems contain ozone-depleting chemicals that could be released into the atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some older vehicles use switches that contain highly toxic mercury to activate hood, trunk, and glove-box lights. Many organizations, including a number of AAA clubs across the country, now host mercury “switch out” programs in which these environmentally hazardous parts are removed for recycling and replaced with nontoxic mechanical switches.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Avoid “jackrabbit” starts, sudden acceleration and speeds above the posted limits; all of these habits guzzle gas.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Properly dispose of engine fluids and batteries. Call your local government waste management agency to find out how. Never dispose of fluids on the ground or in any manner that might allow them to make their way into groundwater, lakes or streams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bring reusable water bottles with you in your car so that you can refill them at gas stations or drinking fountains along the way. Plastic disposable water bottles have become an environmental problem due to their abundance in landfills and oceans alike, which makes this tip especially important if you’re going on a long drive through remote areas with no access to fresh drinking water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure that everyone is playing their part by packing things like chargers and cables for charging electronics, trash bags for picking up litter, and first aid kits. And, don’t forget the snacks! Keep snacks at all times to save on gas stopping from place to place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Proper vehicle maintenance and environmentally-friendly driving habits conserve natural resources, reduce exhaust emissions and reward you with a vehicle that will last longer and be safer to drive. In other words, when you “go green,” the Earth wins, your car wins — and you are the biggest winner of all!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read: Road Trip Ideas: RV Traveling for Beginners<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nRoad tripping with an older vehicle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Avoid “Jackrabbit” Starts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Make the world a better place, one bottle at a time.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Everyone should play their part on the road trip<\/h2>\n\n\n\n