Alternative Fuels - More Ways to Use Less
The mission of the Clean Cities Program is to advance the nation's economic, environmental, and energy security by supporting local decisions to adopt practices that contribute to the reduction of petroleum consumption. In addition to alternative fuels and the vehicles that runs on alt fuels, other strategies include: "low"-fuel blends, fuel economy, hybrid electrics , and idle reduction. These strategies are key to reducing local, state and national reliance on petroleum fuels.
Hybrid electric vehicles are fuel-efficient and can get 40-70 miles per gallon. They pollute less than typical vehicles because they use less fuel, and they perform just as well as, if not better than, a conventional vehicle. Use this site to learn more about the benefits of hybrids and HEV components and systems. See our Hybrids Strategy page to learn how the Clean Cities program supports hybrid deployment.
Conserving diesel fuel that would otherwise be idled away represents an opportunity to reduce petroleum consumption. For information on how the Clean Cities program is supporting idle reduction technologies, see our Idle Reduction Strategy page.
When vehicles are not properly maintained they get poor gas mileage and you spend more money on gas. For example, under-inflation shortens the life of a tire and decreases gas mileage. If your tires are 12 pounds per square inch (psi) below the proper level, this can result in an increase of fuel consumption of five percent.
Here are a few money-saving, maintenance tips for air quality:
- Change your oil and oil filter regularly
- Keep your tire pressure and alignment correct
- Change your fuel filter and air filter
- Monitor hoses, wiring, and belts
- Have your vehicle tuned up regularly
- If warning lights come on, find out why and fix the problem
Be sure to check your owner's manual for service intervals and follow the automobile manufacturer's service recommendations.
Current Idling Regulations in the USA.
Salt Lake County Idle Policy
Salt Lake City Idle Policy
Strategies
Low-blends mean mixing a small amount of a biofuel with either gasoline or diesel. Utah County, Utah, until recently required winter gasoline to contain up to 10 percent (E10) of an alcohol fuel, such as ethanol. The additive increases the heat the burns the fuel, which means less pollution. A "low"-blend of diesel would be two percent bio (B2) or ten percent (B10.) A blend of 20 percent biofuel (B20) with diesel is considered an alternative fuel, and therefore is not a "low"-blend. "Low"-blends are a good way to introduce a biomass fuel to the public. And, if the practice became wide spread, a "low"-blend could make a major contribution to both air quality and petroleum displacement.
Fuel economy typically is thought of as "miles per gallon (mpg)." Cars are chosen because they have a high mpg. The U.S. Environmental Agency provides drivers with "Drive Wise" suggestions. EPA also encourages motorists to shop around when looking for a new car and to consider fuel economy. Other useful sites are: EPA's Consumer Tips and the Utah Division of Air Quality's new program.
Hybrids Strategy refers to hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) such as Honda's Insight, the Honda Civic, and Toyota's Prius. For more than 10 years the sell of pickups, vans and "SUVs," has dominated auto sales. These medium-sized vehicles are not considered "light-duty" the same as the passenger car. They get lower fuel economy than cars and are allowed to emit more tailpipe emissions. Therefore, the recent enthusiasm of Americans consumers for hybrid electrics has been both a surprise and a relief. Their high fuel economy also means these vehicles emit less pollution. With additional makes and models of hybrids, both our air and our oil import costs should improve. But congestion on our roads and highways will continue to suffer if people still choose to travel "one-car, one-person."
Idle Reduction Strategy Typically when we think of "idling," we think of a big diesel truck left running through the night in order to keep the fuel from gelling or thickening. Few people think school buses idling, or train locomotive idling, or even waiting for the next drive-up teller at the bank. Well, those days are past. All of those examples show idling. Also, what we know is that it's harmful for school buses to idle where children are waiting to get onboard. We know that extensive idling will shorten the useful life of a diesel engine. We know that diesel fuel does not have to gel. And on-board auxiliary power equipment is available to power a long-haul trucker's TV, refrigerator, and heater. Old habits are hard to change, but Clean Cities is working on this important energy saving initiative, too. For local efforts please see Idle Free Utah.
Alex Miller of Morningside Elementary won the national award for Igniting Creative Energy. He and a parent will travel to Washington D.C. where he will show his video and participate in an Energy Forum.
Energy Security
The United States accounts for five percent of the world's population, 26 percent of the world's consumption, nine percent of the world's oil production, yet has only two percent of the world's oil reserves. Our need for oil is increasing, while developing nations such as China and India are consuming greater amount of oil, too. The U.S., also, is put at risk because we must buy petroleum from a variety of countries that aren't always stable or friendly to America. In fact, in 1992 when Congress passed the Energy Policy Act saying the U.S. must reduce its dependence on foreign oil, the U.S. was importing 45 percent. Today we import closer to 60 percent. This precarious condition is what is meant by "energy (in)security."
Unlike other energy using sectors, which have introduced substitute fuels and fuel switching flexibility since the oil shocks of the 1970s and 1980s, the transportation sector remains overwhelmingly dependent on petroleum-based fuels (approximately 95 percent of transportation energy coming from petroleum) and on technologies that provide virtually no flexibility. The transportation sector currently accounts for approximately two-thirds of all U.S.
petroleum use and roughly one-fourth of total U.S. energy consumption. And, 97 percent of all transportation fuel used is petroleum.
The other important aspect to energy security is America's growing appetite for transportation fuel. In the wake of the Arab oil embargo and petroleum shortages in the 1970s, Congress created the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) program under which mandatory fuel economy standards are set for passenger car and light truck fleets. Those standards have helped keep in check the fuel usage of automobiles. But with the huge popularity of light trucks, which include SUV, which do not have the same fuel, or pollution standards as autos, the consumption of petroleum has rapidly increased.
How does using alternative fuel achieve energy security?
Alternative fuels such as natural gas, propane, biodiesel, and ethanol are what we call "American Fuels." They are fuels we don't have to import, fight for, or that don't add dollars to our huge national trade deficit.