 If you are planning a vacation, consider driving to your destination. There is a new movement out there called hypermiling. Hypermilers are drivers who exceed the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated fuel efficiency on their vehicles by adjusting their driving habits. Wayne Gerdes coined the term "hypermiling", and he's very serious about it. As Gerdes puts it, "fuel efficiency is not about the car. It's about the driver". His idea of hypermiling isn't about altering the engine or adding different fuels. It's about changing the way you drive so that you can be more fuel-efficient.
EnviroCitizen.org believes that this is a great alternative for anyone looking for more ways to lead a green lifestyle. It can even be a game of sorts, since there are many ways to get the most fuel-efficiency out of your car. Gerdes has actually stated that one of the important aspects of hypermiling is lighten your load. Gerdes goes as far as removing his wallet from the car and he even takes his shoes off. If you're driving to a vacation destination, lightening your load is possible in some aspects, but you'll definitely need your wallet and shoes. Instead, lighten your load by packing only what you need.
There are some questionable tips in the hypermiling world, like wearing an ice vest to keep cool instead of using your air conditioner. But there are some very useful, very doable tips, like rolling up your windows and inflating your tires to the proper PSI (pounds per square inch). You can also avoid breaking when you don't have to and drive a good distance behind other vehicles so that you can break slowly. Use cruise control whenever possible and avoid accelerating quickly. Plan your route in advance to make sure that it's efficient and to avoid getting lost. With hypermiling, you should drive the speed limit or a little slower, since most cars run most efficiently between 50 and 60 miles per hour. Another hypermiling tip is to draft behind larger vehicles on the highway. Follow larger vehicles from a safe distance of course, but drafting will reduce the amount of wind force on your car since the larger vehicle, like a semi-truck or tractor trailer, will take the brunt of the force.
When you're on your way to your vacation destination, try hypermiling out. You could even, as mentioned, make it a game. You can include your family members and see who can come up with the most suggestions to make your trip the most fuel-efficient and eco-friendly, as possible. Hypermiling could potentially bring the excitement on your trip to a whole other level! EnviroCitizen.org cautions you to remember that in the end, one of the best things you can do is to pack lightly. The lighter the load, the less fuel it takes to get to where you're going!
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