At SmartPark we take care of your car while you’re away, but what can you do to help Mother Nature before you pull into our lot? There’s a bunch of simple guidelines you can follow to save yourself money while doing a part to save your vehicle’s impact on the environment.
It’s no secret that vehicles contribute to pollution, but research says that only 25% of cars and trucks are causing about 90% of the problem. And that’s because of poor maintenance and inefficient driving habits.
So is your car a culprit or is it a mean, clean driving machine?
Packing on the Pounds?
Hauling extra weight can reduce your fuel efficiency. Sure, keep that emergency kit in your trunk but let’s not use it as a permanent storage area. If it’s not necessary, find a new home for it.
On the outside, roof racks with luggage in them increase wind resistance and can decrease fuel efficiency. If possible, use a rear-mounted cargo box instead of a roof-mounted one. Research shows that at highway speeds, roof-mounted boxes can reduce fuel economy by 6 to 17%.
An Idle Situation
Idling uses more fuel than restarting your car does. It gives off 80% more pollution than when your car is moving and can even generate a ticket in some areas. If you’re staying put for a minute or more, consider turning off your engine.
More and more vehicles are now coming equipped with stop-start systems. This helps a vehicle conserve fuel by automatically shutting off the engine when the car comes to a stop. It then restarts once you take your foot off the brake.
Ozone Alerts
Air quality alert days are when ozone becomes concentrated near the ground. This makes the air difficult to breathe and emissions make it worse. Try to gas-up in the later part of the day. High temperatures and low wind can convert vapors into pollutants.
Hey, Speedy Gonzales!
As New Yorkers, we’re all in a rush. But did you know that once you reach 50 mph, you lose fuel efficiency? And for those at 85 mph, you can safely assume that only gets worse! Ease off a bit without causing an unsafe situation. Avoid accelerating quickly, don’t ride your brakes and use cruise control when possible.
Tire Pressure and Maintenance
Check your manual or sticker on the inside of your driver side door to see what your tire pressure should be. Underinflated tires can cause fuel consumption to increase by as much as 3%. Plus, poor inflation is more likely to lead to a blow out and cause an accident.
It’s always ideal to follow a prescribed maintenance schedule from the manufacturer. We want to get you into our lot in the safest and greenest manner possible. Are you doing your part on a daily basis?
SmartPark JFK and LaGuardia are here to make your parking experience as easy and pleasurable as possible. With the best prices and most benefits when booking direct with SmartParkParking.com, we invite you to visit our website to make your hassle-free reservation today!