Pennsylvania DEP Offer Tips to Consumers to Conserve Fuel, Cut Costs as Gas Prices Climb

MECHANICSBURG, Pa., May 24, 2004 -- With gasoline prices averaging above $2 a gallon and the summer driving season approaching, Environmental Protection Deputy Secretary for Energy and Technology Development Daniel Desmond today offered tips to help motorists conserve fuel and save on gasoline costs while also helping the environment.

"The easiest way to combat higher prices and conserve fuel is to drive less," Desmond said. "If that is not possible and you need to be on the road this summer, there are other ways you can maximize fuel efficiency and offset price increases."

At Zimmerman's Auto Service in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, Desmond said vehicle maintenance is an important factor in conserving fuel, decreasing pollution and improving gas mileage. The benefits are a healthier environment and greater financial savings.

The national average gasoline price stood at $2.023 a gallon on May 21, according to AAA. That is a record high and more than 52.9 cents a gallon higher than this time last year. The average price for regular gasoline in state is $2.019 a gallon, also a record. Pennsylvanians were paying $1.74 a month ago and $1.46 at this time last year.

Among the factors contributing to rising prices: unprecedented demand on global oil reserves, the U.S. dollar's declining value against other major currencies, declining refinery and distribution storage capacity in the United States, and continuing shortfall in new oil exploration.

Desmond said that prices ultimately may level off, but even then there is little chance they will retreat back to where they were in recent years. Motorists can take steps to make gasoline dollars go farther and minimize the impact of high fuel prices on our daily lives. Some ways to do that include the following:

    -- Avoid quick stops and starts.  This can save up to two miles a
       gallon.
    -- Don't be an aggressive driver.  It lowers gas mileage by as much as
       33 percent on the highway and 5 percent on city streets, which
       results in 7 cents to 49 cents a gallon.
    -- Avoid excessive idling.  Sitting idle gets zero miles per gallon and
       consumes between one half and one gallon of gasoline per hour.
    -- Check your vehicle's gas cap.  Loose, damaged and missing gas caps
       allow 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year.
    -- Check your tire pressure.  When tires are underinflated, it is like
       driving with the parking brake on and can cost a mile or two per
       gallon.
    -- Replace worn spark plugs.  A vehicle can have up to eight spark
       plugs, which fire as many as 3 million times every 1,000 miles.  A
       dirty spark plug causes misfiring, wasting fuel.
    -- Replace dirty air filters that waste gas and cause engines to lose
       power.  Replacing these filters can improve gas mileage by as much as
       10 percent, saving about 15 cents a gallon.
    -- Combine errands to reduce vehicle miles traveled.
    -- Take unnecessary weight out of trunks or back seats.  By some
       estimates, hauling around an extra 100 pounds can cost 1 mile a
       gallon.
    -- Whenever possible, take public transportation or carpool.

For more information, visit DEP's Web site at www.dep.state.pa.us. To view national and state average gasoline prices, visit www.aaa.com.