Commuter Resources

The Commuter Catalog offers high-quality products to enhance your daily or weekly commute, plus free commuter web resources.

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Commuting by Car?

Links that help you save on fuel:

2008 Fuel Economy Guide

2008 Fuel Economy Guide (678k)
(Updated October 11, 2007)

Alternative Fuel, Hybrid and Diesel Vehicles

Calculate Fuel Costs & Compare Savings Fuel Cost Calculator (compare two cars!)

GasPriceWatch.com - Tracks gasoline prices at local stations from reports provided by consumers

Our dependence upon oil, especially foreign oil, affects our economy and our national energy security. Today, over half of the oil we use in the U.S. is imported (60%). Our dependence will increase as we use up domestic resources.

Most of the world's oil reserves are concentrated in the Middle East, and about two-thirds are controlled by OPEC members.

Oil price shocks and price manipulation by OPEC have cost our economy dearly, about $7 trillion from 1979 to 2000. Each major price shock was followed by a recession. With growing U.S. imports and increasing world dependence on OPEC oil, future price shocks are possible and would be costly to the U.S. economy.

You can help improve our energy security by selecting a vehicle that uses less petroleum. Each vehicle in the Find and Compare Cars section of the U.S. government's www.fueleconomy.gov website has an Energy Impact Score that shows the amount of petroleum it uses each year.


How to Save Gas, Improve Mileage

What can you do to save gas?

• Walk, bike, take a bus, or carpool when possible. Use your car only when necessary. Public transportation authorities often have carpooling information as well as transit services. If you own more than one vehicle, drive the one that gets the best gas mileage whenever possible.

• Combine errands into one trip. Consolidate trips to destinations that are near one another. Once you arrive, park and walk between destinations. Save errands for one afternoon and plan your trip so you don’t retrace your route. You not only save gas this way, but reduce wear-and-tear on your car.

• Drive your car wisely and maintain it properly. The way you driveand take care of your car can make a big difference in your gas mileage.

What can you do to get better gas mileage when you drive?

You can greatly improve your mileage by having your car serviced regularly, and by driving wisely. Any of these eight points can help improve your mileage:

• Go easy on the brakes and gas pedal. Avoid “jackrabbit” starts byaccelerating gradually whenever possible. Also, anticipate stops to avoid sudden braking.

• Avoid long idles. Turn off the engine if you anticipate a lengthy wait. Instead of idling at a drive-up window, park the car and go in. Idling burns more gas than restarting the engine. Limit car warmups in winter.

•Avoid carrying unneeded items in the trunk. Extra weight decreases gas mileage. Also, reduce drag by placing items inside the car or trunk, rather than on roof racks.

• Avoid high speeds. You can improve your gas mileage about 15 percent by driving at 55 mph rather than 65 mph.

• Use your air conditioning only when necessary. Roll down the windows or open the air vents to keep your car comfortable on not-so-hot days.

• Use overdrive. If your car is equipped with overdrive gearing (on 5-speed manual transmissions and 4-speed automatic transmissions), be sure to make use of the overdrive gear as soon as your speed is high enough. If you have a manual transmission, the lower the shift speed, the better the fuel economy. Your owner’s manual will give you further information.

• Keep tires properly inflated and aligned. Periodic wheel alignments and keeping tires inflated to the maximum recommended pressure can improve your gas mileage.

• Get regular engine tuneups and car maintenance checks. Tuneups improve performance as well as gas mileage. Check your owner’s manual for recommended maintenance schedules. By following the manufacturer’s recommendations, you should avoid fuel economy problems due to worn spark plugs, dragging brakes, low transmission fluid, or the transmission not going into high gear.

What should you consider when buying a new car?

• Understand your needs and buy accordingly. Get only the options you really need. Optional equipment that adds weight to your car can decreaseyour gas mileage (especially heavy options such as four-wheel drive). Automatictransmissions generally degrade fuel economy. Larger engines and higher horsepower typically result in lower gas mileage. If you need the additional power and torque, be aware your gas mileage will suffer during all types of driving.

• Check the gas mileage ratings of similar vehicles. Buy a fuel efficient model in the size category that meets your needs. The Federal Gas Mileage Guide, issued annually, compares gas mileage of similar models.


Commuting by Airplane?

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