Environment Week (June 3-9) is an opportunity to learn more about these and other incentive programs, but it's important to green your ride all year round. Try following these simple steps:
. Don't idle; restarting the engine uses less fuel than 10 seconds of idling and produces less air pollution.
. Avoid fast starts and stops-they burn more fuel and pollute more.
. Don't speed; increasing your speed from 100 to 120 kilometres per hour reduces your mileage by 20 percent.
. Don't carry unnecessary weight, and remove your roof rack if you're not using it.
. Limit your use of air conditioning.
. Use gasoline with at least 10 percent ethanol and don't overfill; spillage is a major source of ozone pollution.
. Keep your vehicle in good shape; a poorly maintained vehicle can use up to 50 percent more gas and produce 50 percent more pollution.
. Keep your tires properly inflated: a vehicle driving on under-inflated tires can use up to three percent more fuel.
For more information on other Government of Canada environmental initiatives aimed at supporting Canadians in their "green efforts", visit www.ecoaction.gc.ca or call 1-800-622-6232 or TTY 1-800-926-9105.
