GIVE THE EARTH A BRAKE!

Did you know that for every gallon of gasoline that is burned by an automobile, about 20 pounds of the greenhouse gas CO₂ are put into the atmosphere? Now think of all of the times you've been to the gas pump, adding another 10 or 12 gallons to your tank. If you drive 10,000 miles in a year, and your car gets an average of 25 miles to the gallon, that translates into 8,000 pounds of CO₂ emissions from your car alone.

So what can you do to help the situation? Obviously, buying a more fuel-efficient car next time you're in the market for one is an important decision. In the meantime, though, you could simply slow down a bit, and give the environment a brake. For the average midsized car, physics tells us that slowing down by 10 miles per hour can improve your mileage by as much as 5 miles per gallon. For those 10,000 miles you drive every year, this can reduce your CO₂ emissions by more than 1,300 pounds! And, it saves you money - about $170 per year at $2.50 per gallon.
Now, some people might say they lose a lot of time by slowing down, and, after all, time is money, too. But think about it this way - for a 50-mile trip, slowing down from 75 mph to 65 mph only adds a little over 6 minutes to the journey. And, this reduces your CO₂ emissions by just over 6 pounds. So plan ahead, take a few extra minutes, and remember that every minute you add to your trip keeps a pound of CO₂ out of the atmosphere!

Together, we can drive down the carbon levels. So, slow down, enjoy the view, and do your part to help make it last!