If you truly want to make a difference in the world when it comes to vehicle emissions and lowering your carbon footprint, take a look at the Honda Civic GX. The Honda Civic GX is better than a hybrid, because it doesn’t require a drop of gasoline at all. Instead, the Honda Civic GX runs on natural gas. 

When a vehicle runs on natural gas, it has nearly zero emissions. The American Council for Energy-Efficient Economy even awarded the 2008 Honda Civic GX the distinction of being “America’s Greenest Car.” The Honda Civic GX sells for $25,000 and up when new. In addition, natural gas sells for up to dollars less per gallon than your regular gasoline.  It is the most affordable option when it comes to buying a new car that runs on natural gas.

Although the Honda Civic GX is a great concept, the purchase of this vehicle may not yet be ideal for everyone everywhere. There are only a couple of thousand natural gas stations in the United States (many in California), compared to the hundreds of thousands of gasoline stations across the country. Additionally, the tank only holds about 8 gallons of natural gas at a time, and limits journeys to around 200 miles between stops.

Overall, the Honda Civic GX is a great step toward greening our auto industry. We wait for the day for Honda to come out with a hydrogen-cell vehicle, but until then, the lesser emissions will do. If you live in an area that sells natural gas in numerous locations, or you do not drive hundreds of miles a week, you should consider the Honda Civic GX the next time you are looking to purchase a new car. As for Honda’s overall ability to develop safe and sturdy cars, the reputation is unbeatable for its class. We have been consistent Honda customers over the years and are excited to see them making steps towards a greener future.

[source1] [source2]

You do not need to drive a hybrid or electric car to be greener and save on gas mileage. Here are some great tips to improve your gas mileage:

1. Keep your tires properly inflated. This will improve your gas mileage, and make your tires last longer!
2. Get your regular tune-up, on-time. Getting your oil changed protects your engine and helps increase your miles/gallon. Also, getting your air filter changed regularly will also protect your engine, increasing your miles/gallon.
3. Don’t carry unnecessary weight in your car, unless you are using sand bags in the winter to prevent slipping on ice. The more weight in your car, the more gas needed to lug it around.
4. When driving, don’t accelerate or break more than you need to. Usually it is best to drive at the speed limit to accomplish this. When you have a constant rpm, you save on gas. Drive several car lengths behind the car in front of you. When they break, you will not have to break as often, or as hard. Try using cruise control to maintain the same speed. This is also a great way to avoid going over the speed limit. Save gas, and avoid tickets!
5. Don’t idle for too long. All this idling will use more gas, and you are not even going anywhere! However, shutting your car off and turning it on many times in a short time period will use more gas than idling for a couple of minutes.

A great website for you to use to learn more about fuel efficiency is fueleconomy.gov. Learn about fuel efficient cars, discover more tips, and calculate your own “MPG.”