By Wendy Gabriel
GREEN TIP: Check the gas cap on your car. If it is damaged, loose or missing, get it fixed. Evaporation wastes gas and adds to air pollution.
In my little neck of the woods, gas is currently almost $4.00 a gallon. I am well aware this is not the highest price in the nation. I know there are issues within issues around even more issues surrounded by reasons on why it’s high and how high it’s going to get. This, courtesy of every news station, talk show and man on the street screaming to me about all of this, and more.
All I know is that when I fill up my car, it is expensive. And everyone I know has helpful tips on how to reduce consumption.
This all goes out the window, unfortunately, when baby Greek goddess is out of her mind because she needs a nap and the only thing that will calm her into peaceful dreams is a car ride. I digress.
According to the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council Of Government, your gas cap could be leaking regardless of the age of your car. And if it is three years old or older, the odds of it leaking are even higher. Every leaking gas cap equals 199 pounds of pollution every year and costs you at least two tanks of gas per year. Wow!
An estimated 17 percent of all vehicles on US highways, according to Kansas City’s Unified Government Offices website, have either misused or missing gas caps. This is causing 147,000,000 gallons of gas per year to vaporize into the atmosphere. WOW!
A lot of cities hold free gas cap testing during the summer so check with your local government and get your gas cap checked! Remember, a tight gas cap keeps a lid on leakage.
