Approximately one-third of the pollution created in the U.S. comes from transportation. While more energy-efficient vehicles may reduce the harmful impact of pollution on environment and our health, we have a long way to go in making transportation environmentally friendly.

Our vehicles’ impact on the earth will likely never drop to zero, but there are steps to make your car operate more sustainably. Find below 13 ways to reduce your vehicle’s carbon emissions today, as well as tips for buying green, the case for electric vehicles, and how going green can even help you save on car insurance. 

1. Drive safely: Did you know that aggresive driving wastes gas? Going easy on your gas pedal and brakes is typically the most effective way to reduce your vehicle’s GHG emissions. Eliminating speeding, rapid acceleration, and braking can lower your gas usage by roughly 15% to 30% at highway speeds. Driving safely also helps to lower your car insurance rates.

2. Obey the speed limit: Once you hit speeds of 50 miles per hour and above, fuel economy decreases rapidly. Every 5 mph by which you exceed 50 mph adds up to an extra $18 per gallon of gas. You can help the planet, your wallet, and your safety by slowing down on the roads.

3. Use cruise control: You can easily abide by the speed limit and save gas by utilizing your cruise control when you are on the highway. Before you turn on your cruise control settings, make sure weather conditions are good and traffic around you is steady but not heavy.

4. Purchase smarter: If you are in the market for a new vehicle, you don’t need to buy an electric vehicle or hybrid in order to get a fuel-efficient car. Avoid large SUVs, vans, and trucks if you want to still want to make an eco-friendly purchase. Vehicles that get 30 miles per gallon or higher are considered fuel-efficient.

5. Fill up wisely: When you put gas in your car, don’t top off your tank. That extra pump after the pump stops can cause harmful vapors to escape your tank and can force liquid fuel into the canister. Another way to reduce vapor emissions is to make sure your fuel cap is screwed on tight.

6. Limit AC usage: Your car’s AC doesn’t always have to be on high — although it’s important to remember that hot cars can become dangerous for vulnerable passengers such as children, the elderly, and pets. You can limit your car’s AC with products such as window tint — which can reflect up to 78% of the sun’s heat — and other DIY cooling car hacks.

7. Avoid unnecessary trips: Reduce extraneous driving by planning your trips. If you have multiple errands to do, plan to make multiple stops in the same trip. Your engine becomes more efficient as it warms up, so one longer trip is better than multiple short trips.

8. Get regular maintenance: Taking your car in for routine maintenance can boost your gas mileage by 4%. Regular maintenance also allows you to catch serious problems early. Repairing engine issues can improve fuel efficiency by 40%. While maintenance requirements depend on how many miles you put on your car, you should get your car checked at least once every 12 months.

9. Remove extra weight: The less your car weighs, the more efficiently it runs. Car weights have increased steadily since the 1970s, despite the fact that lighter cars enjoy better vehicle performance and fuel economy. Reducing your car’s weight by 20% provides an 8.4% mileage boost. Some easy ways to get the weight down include clearing out your trunk and back seat and only filling your gas tank halfway.

10. Maintain the radiator: The key to your car’s engine’s cooling system — which keeps your car from overheating and more — is the radiator. Keep your radiator running at maximum capacity by keeping the coolant filled at all times, keeping the cap on tight, and getting the radiator flushed and filled annually.

11. Check the tire pressure: One of the easiest ways to boost your fuel economy is to check your tire pressure regularly. If you don’t maintain your tire pressure, your tires won’t roll as efficiently, which in turn makes your engine work harder to get the tires moving. Over 4 million gallons of gas are wasted each day due to low tire pressure. Check your tires at least once a month to ensure they have the correct pressure.

12. Have the fuel system checked: Look out for signs of a fuel leak, which can reduce your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. The biggest sign of a fuel leak is the smell. Otherwise, get your fuel filter and injectors flushed with regular maintenance.

13. Change your air filters: You don’t have to take your car to the shop in order to change your air filters. Like your house air conditioning system, your car’s air filters should be changed regularly in order to run at maximum efficiency. The good news is you can do this yourself in just a few simple steps.