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Green Tip
It’s not hard to make a difference when it comes to the environment and cars. Like with most things, every little bit helps, and every month we’re dedicated to bring you a green driving tip on how you can make our city greener. Just by just keeping some of these tips in mind while driving, you’ll be doing your part for the environment. Please bookmark our site and continue to visit, on the first of every month we will have a new Capital Kia – Green Initiative Driving Tip.
 Use air conditioning only when necessary For most of us, this is easier said then done! When it's hot out we all crank it to the deep blue and hit the MAX AC button don't we? Well recent studies on new cars, 2007 and newer shows that AC really hurts fuel economy. The easiest way is to moderate. Avoid setting AC to low, as AC uses a lot of power from the car. When the outdoor temperature is 25°C, (don’t you wish we had more days of 25°C + weather) AC decreases fuel efficiency by 12 percent. That’s significant... working out to about 50km less driving per tank of gas, on average. When it is safe to do so, opening the windows driving in town is more efficient than using AC. However, the opposite is true when driving at highway speed due to air resistance. We hope this helps keep you both comfortable in the heat and happier at the pumps! Green Tip August 09  Got a little junk in your trunk? Slamming back a box of Smarties then immediately pounding an energy drink in one fell swoop is an energy boosting infusion of hyperactivity for your body because, as we all know our bodies use food for energy. Our cars use gas for energy and the Smarties and energy drink would be analogous to say, a bottle of octane booster and a liter of jet fuel in the gas tank. "ALL of which is probably not good for either your body or your car. (Exception being approved octane boost and maybe Smarties in moderation)" The more weight your car has on board the more work it has to do, its the equivalent of the energy needed to compete in a marathon (junk in the trunk) vs sitting on the coach watching a season of your favorite TV series (empty car). No matter what kind of vehicle you drive, eliminating some junk will go a long long way. BEFORE you take a chainsaw to the roof and make yourself a new "Cabriolet" getting rid of the "useless roof weight" there are a few less drastic steps that will help out in the long run – plus the lack of a roof just isn’t for our climate come November/December when the new "convertible" looses its appeal in sub zero weather. Sports equipment, strollers, gym bags and rock salt left over from winter driving are all hurting your fuel economy. The EPA estimates that for every extra 100 pounds your car caries, it loses 2 percent in fuel economy, so just by cleaning up your act, you can start on the road to saving!
Here in Okotoks, most folks find themselves traveling to Calgary or abroad to get to work daily. We see it every day, folks come in asking about our economical vehicles to get themselves to and from work. Have you considered car pooling? It's the wise decision, and its also one of the most effective ways to have an impact on the environment. It's simple to see why, less cars on the road lessens the effect exponentially. Carpooling is a great way to be Green! While not always convenient, managed properly, Carpooling can be fun, allowing you to spend some quality time with fellow carpoolers. Studies have consistently shown that employees who commute by means other than a single-occupancy vehicle demonstrate lower levels of stress, higher morale, and lower blood pressure.
Green Tip June 09
 To better help you carpool, here are some free carpooling resources; Carpool World Website - Find Your Perfect Carpool Instantly (links to)--> http://www.carpoolworld.com/carpool_.html eRide Share Website - Calgary Carpool Center (links to)--> http://www.erideshare.com/carpool.php?city=Calgary ZimRide Website - A Carpool Community (links to)--> http://zimride.com/browse/CA/Alberta/Okotoks Kijiji Rideshare Calgary - Free Local Classifieds (links to)--> http://calgary.kijiji.ca/f-community-rideshare-W0QQCatIdZ5 The environment is on everyone's mind, and at the end of the day it's everyone's business. Using fewer cars means less pollution, more conservation of habitat, and less demand for new roads and parking lots. Using fewer cars also means less production of greenhouse gases, a major contributor to climate change. Commuting in a non-single-occupancy vehicle means that you can feel proud that your chosen method of commuting is helping the environment. We would be proud to show you our economical vehicle in order to optimize your commute. We're happy to say, we field one of the greenest vehicle lineups on earth!  It’s a fallacy that turning off your car and restarting it uses more fuel than just letting your engine idle. In actual fact, if you’re going to be waiting for more than 30 seconds, you’ll be using MORE fuel than if you turned off your engine. This is especially important when you’re sitting in the drive thru. If you foresee a long wait for your coffee or your scared your burger will be cold by the time you FINALLY get to the window, put you car in park and turn it off. Every little bit helps. Vehicle Tips
Check motor oil. Top off and change oil as necessary with manufacturer-recommended grade, “energy conserving” motor oils. Doing so can improve fuel economy by up to 2 percent, accordingto the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA). Replacing conventional oils with synthetics may offer even greater fuel economy benefits. Check oil and air filters. Make sure you change your air filter at the end of its recommended lifespan. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve a vehicle’s gas mileage by up to 10 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Check engine performance. Enhance fuel economy performance by having engines tuned and spark plugs replaced according to the manufacturer’s recommended schedule. A single misfiring spark plug can cut fuel economy by up to 4 percent, according to the EPA. Check brakes. Improperly maintained brakes can result in unwanted drag. This unnecessary resistance can have the same effect as driving with a foot on the brake pedal: a dramatic drop in fuel economy. Pay attention to warning lights for "Service Engine Soon" or "Check Engine". Ignoring these indicators may result in poor fuel economy performance and require expensive repairs. For example, a warning light may indicate a faulty oxygen sensor is sending more fuel to the engine than necessary, which can result in a 40-percent fuel economy decline. A warning light could also indicate a faulty thermostat, which can prevent a cold engine from reaching its normal operating temperature resulting in the unnecessary injection of fuel. Check tires for wear. Replacing worn tires with a manufacturer-recommended size and style can save hundreds of dollars a year. To improve fuel economy performance, consider low rolling-resistance replacement tires. Check tire inflation pressure. Keeping tires inflated to at least the manufacturer-recommended pressure can improve fuel economy by up to 3 percent, according to the EPA. Under-inflated tires require more energy to roll, meaning more fill-ups. Check for unnecessary items that add weight to the vehicle. Unnecessary weight lowers fuel economy; remove heavy items from your trunk and back seat. Check evaporative emission controls. Poorly operating evaporative emission controls can fail to capture gasoline vapors and recycle them to the fuel tank. Faulty controls waste gas and degrade air quality. Check transmission. Properly operating modern transmissions and drive components are critical to vehicle fuel economy performance. Routinely check proper fluid levels and system operation. 6 Ways to Save on Gas
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