Go easy on the AC

Save on fuel by using air conditioning only when it’s really needed

Note: This Green Ideas first ran a few years ago, but $2/litre gas prices made me think it was worth sharing again.

It’s summer, and for many of us that means the air conditioner in our vehicles is always on.  But consider this: air conditioning is second only to driving as the biggest load on an engine – it can increase your fuel consumption by up to 20%.  Put another way, turning on the air conditioner is a lot like constantly hauling a trailer around.

So what to do?

• Turn off your AC and use fresh air when possible; open windows wide as you like at low speeds, just a crack at higher speeds, and use your fan without air conditioning for added comfort.  Sunroofs are awesome because they are quieter than open windows
• Reserve AC only for really hot days, and use it intermittently; aim for comfortable, not cold
• Set your AC to ‘recirculation’; it uses less energy because you’re cooling the air already inside your vehicle and not bringing in warm outside air
• Park in the shade whenever you can or use a reflective window shade so your vehicle doesn’t get as uncomfortably hot inside (meaning there’s less heat to get rid of via open windows or AC)
• Get into the habit of turning off your AC when you park at the end of the day so it’s not automatically on in the morning when you least need it

Learn more strategies for saving on air conditioning from Natural Resources Canada, here (and note the savings chart is based on gas costing… sigh… $1/litre).