Drivers can conserve fuel by learning how driving behaviors affect fuel economy and by adopting techniques to save fuel.

• USDOE- FuelEconomy.gov
• USDOE Alternative Fuels Data Center- Strategies to Conserve Fuel
• North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE)

Idle Reduction

Idle reduction describes technologies and practices that reduce the amount of time an engine idles. Idling wastes fuel and increases engine wear, so small changes in idling time can lead to noticeable benefits.

• USDOE Clean Cities- IdleBox Toolkit
• SCDHEC- Breathe Better (B2) Anti-Idling Program
• USDOE Alternative Fuels Data Center- Idle Reduction

Transportation System Efficiency

Efficient transportation systems achieve transportation goals while reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Reducing VMT decreases petroleum use in transportation. Also known as transportation demand management, VMT reduction strategies also can reduce traffic congestion, enable the use of more efficient vehicles, reduce transportation costs, and save time for drivers. Some of these strategies include ridesharing, mass transit, park-and-ride lots and telework.

• USDOE Alternative Fuels Data Center- System Efficiency
• American Public Transportation Association (APTA)
• USDOT Federal Transit Administration

Transportation Association of South Carolina (TASC)

The Transportation Association of South Carolina (TASC) is a nonprofit organization that promotes public transportation in South Carolina.  Its members include public service transportation providers, human services agencies providing specialized transportation services to seniors and persons with disabilities and special needs, government agencies, private transportation providers, educational institutions, and for-profit vendors that serve the transportation industry.

USEPA SmartWay Program

The Energy Office’s Palmetto Clean Fuels coalition has joined the US Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay program to help companies advance supply chain sustainability by measuring, benchmarking, and improving freight transportation efficiency. The program helps to accelerate availability, adoption, and market penetration of fuel-saving technologies and operational practices while helping companies save fuel, lower costs, and reduce environmental impacts.

Active Transit

Active transit is human-powered transportation, such as biking and walking. Active transportation eliminates vehicle miles traveled altogether. Active transit requires adequate infrastructure that includes crosswalks, overpasses, sidewalks, and bike lanes or paths to help people travel safely.

• Palmetto Cycling Coalition

SCDOT's Interactive Programmed Projects Viewer

SCDOT's Interactive Programmed Projects Viewer showcases projects that are actively being developed. This can include projects in various stages of development, including the design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction phase.

Telework

Telework is a work arrangement where employees work from home (telecommute) or attend conferences and meetings from their computer or by phone (teleconference). Providing telework opportunities is a good way for vehicle fleet managers and corporate decision makers to work with employees to conserve fuel because commuting and work-related travel contribute significantly to total vehicle miles traveled. It also is seen by many employers as an inexpensive perk that helps to recruit competitive employees.

• USDOE Alternative Fuels Data Center- Telework
• North Carolina Telework Toolkit
• US Office of Personnel Management- Telework.Gov

Gas Saving Tips: How to Beat the High Cost Of Gasoline

The rising price of oil is driving up gasoline prices, leaving South Carolinians looking for better, more effective ways to save gas – and money. There are many ways you can conserve gasoline and improve mileage without significantly affecting your lifestyle. Information from the US Department of Energy identifies ten of the easiest:

• Walk, bike, take a bus or carpool whenever possible. If you own more than one care, drive the one that is most fuel-efficient.
• Combine your errands into one trip, and consolidate trips to destinations close to one another. Also, plan your errands so you won’t have to retrace your route, and once you arrive, park and walk between destinations.
• Don’t leave your car idling. If drive-through lines are too long, you can save gas by turning off the car, or parking and going inside. Limit car warm-ups on cold mornings.
• Use “free” air conditioning. The wind doesn’t cost a thing. So when the heat is bearable, turn off the AC, roll down the windows, and take advantage of the breeze.
• Avoid “jackrabbit” starts by accelerating gradually whenever possible, and anticipate stops to avoid sudden braking.
• Remove unneeded items from your car or trunk, since the extra weight decreases gas mileage. You can reduce drag by placing necessary items inside the car or trunk instead of on roof racks.
• Slow down. Your gas mileage can increase by 15 percent if you drive at 55 mph instead of at 65 mph.
• Use the overdrive gear as quickly as possible. If your car is equipped with overdrive gearing, use it as soon as your speed is high enough. And remember: If you have a manual transmission, the lower the shift speed, the better the fuel economy.
• Keep your tires properly aligned and inflated. Underinflated tires can cut fuel economy by 2 percent per pound. So if your tires should be at 32 psi and they’re at 27 psi, you’ve cut your mileage by 10 percent.
• Get regular tune-ups to avoid fuel economy problems due to worn spark plugs, dragging brakes, low transmission fluid, etc.