Thanks to WALL-E, and other highly influential figures in our society, we know how important protecting and preserving our planet really is. We all have a role to play, and you can do your part by taking small steps to ensure your car, whether hybrid or not, is up-to-scratch environmentally.

Here are some quick, easy green-driving tips for before, during and after you put the car in drive:

• Avoid flooring the gas pedal. Did you know that one second of high-powered driving could produce nearly the same volume of carbon monoxide emissions as a half hour of normal driving?
• Anticipate stops. Let your car coast to a stop instead of slamming your foot on the breaks.
• Keep to the speed limit! Driving just 10 mph over the limit will lower your fuel economy by 10 percent!
• Avoid rush hour. When you sit in stop-and-go traffic, not only do you burn gas, but you also increase smog-causing pollutants into the air.
• Don’t use your trunk as an extension to your closet. Carrying around an extra 100 lbs in your car reduces your fuel economy by about one percent.
• Keep your tires properly inflated. For every three pounds below recommended pressure, fuel economy goes down by about one percent.
• Park in the shade in summer to keep your car cool and minimize the evaporation of fuel. If you have to park outdoors, windshield shades can cut down on summer heat and help keep the frost off in the winter.

You may also want to check your own car’s fuel economy. Fueleconomy.gov has a really useful tool to determine just how efficient your car is. You can customize your annual mileage to get personalized estimates and compare the fuel efficiency of your car against other models.

Go check it out for yourself! Its pretty eye opening!