Driving

Caring for the Cosmos

July/August 2009: Driving Efficiently

Remembering God’s charge to humankind to rule over the earth, recorded in Genesis 1:26, and also his love for creation, expressed in John 3:16, I encouraged others last month to join me in taking better care of the environment. A first step in that direction involved using energy efficient lighting. This month, we’ll switch gears to look at driving.

Unfortunately for the planet, most of us not only love our cars but depend on our CO2 emitting vehicles, due to a lack of dependable and widespread mass transit. Yet Revelation 11:18 threatens destruction on “those who destroy the earth,” throwing Christians into a quandary. While a car-free life would be unthinkable, minimizing our engines’ negative impact on the environment presents a conceivable alternative. A recent Wall Street Journal article (1) offered several tips for improving fuel economy and, as a result, reducing emissions, by driving efficiently:

Coast up to red lights and down hills.
Accelerate gradually.
Try not to exceed 60 mph on highways.
Shift to a higher gear before reaching 2000 rpm. With an automatic transmission, keep an eye on the tachometer, letting up on the gas to help the car shift.
Avoid hauling around excessive weight.

Employing these techniques, a man was able to drive 844 miles around Texas last year without refilling his tank. At the risk of annoying drivers behind me, I hope to try out a few of these ideas, curbing emissions, while also improving my car’s gas mileage and lowering my fuel bill. I encourage others to join in, continuing the effort to demonstrate our love for God and his world.

1. "Efficient Drivers Cut Emissions, but Stir Up Hot Air" by Jeffrey Ball, The Wall Street Journal, April 17, 2009.