The lazy, hazy days of summer should soon be upon us. Sounds nice doesn't it? But in fact that haziness could actually be summer smog! Summer smog builds up mainly from April through October, causing reduced visibility in cities and a visible layer, similar to fog. It also causes a health hazard to people.

Did you know the average light-duty vehicle produces roughly three times its weight in CO2 every year? If poorly driven and maintained, it can generate even more CO2. In Canada, light-duty vehicles produce a signficant 12% of Canada's CO2 emissions.

To stay "Green" this summer...here are some tips to keep in mind:

1. Air conditioning causes vehicles to burn more fuel. Use only when necessary. As a rule, highway driving is a good time to use air conditioning because winding down your windows creates drag – forcing the engine to work harder. In slower moving traffic, running your air conditioning can cause you to burn more fuel than having your windows rolled down.

2. Faster driving burns fuel more quickly. Increasing speeds from 100km/h to 120 km/h will cause a vehicle to consume 20% more fuel and contribute unnecessary CO2 to the environment. It is also less safe.

3. Cruise control can improve fuel efficiency for most drivers by allowing their vehicles to maintain a constant speed. Cruise control should only be used on dry pavement and on straight roads in areas free of heavy traffic.

4. If you idle your car more than 10 seconds it burns more fuel than it takes to restart the engine. Engines that idle too much can suffer wear and tear because they are being forced to work below their ideal operating temperature.

5. Tire inflation should be checked at least once a month for the operation of your vehicle and to improve fuel efficiency. For each 5% a tire is underinflated, 1% more fuel is consumed. Annually, improper tire maintenance causes 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 to be released into the environment and is estimated to cost Canadian light-duty vehicle owners almost 643 million litres of fuel annually. At $0.79 per litre for regular unleaded gasoline, that amounts to more than $500 million a year in wasted fuel!

6. A poorly maintained vehicle uses up to 50% more fuel to travel the same distance as a well-tuned vehicle. Even something as minor as a clogged air filter can increase fuel consumption by 10%.

7. A clogged air filter can increase fuel consumption by 10%. A clogged fuel filter can cause similar problems.

8. Keeping your brakes in good shape also affects your fuel efficiency in addition to being a safety issue. Worn out brakes can drag (they don't let go properly when you release) causing the vehicle to work harder and burn more fuel.

Check out the "Go Green! Vehicle Maintenance Tips to Help Save You Money" brochure on the Car Care Canada website that includes potential gas and money savings based on a series of maintenance tasks.

For more information about vehicle maintenance visit www.carcarecanada.ca.