This week’s Versus: the question may seem redundant with the most oppressive summer days behind us, but for those of us in the Southland, the question is perennial:
What’s better for our gas mileage – rolling down windows and cooling off with natural air, or switching on the air conditioner?
The Dilemma: Air conditioning employs extra engine power (and thus, gasoline) in order to blast cool air into the vehicle. On the other hand, open windows can sabotage your car’s aerodynamics, placing considerable drag on your car.
What’s a sweaty, eco-friendly driver to do?
The Facts: The answer is in the details: in modern sedans, the moderate use of an air conditioning unit can drop your mileage around 1-2 miles per gallon, depending on who you ask. Those driving SUVs and trucks (why are you doing that, by the way?) are hit worse, with some studies showing a gas mileage drop of about 10%.
An EPA report on gas mileage encourages drivers to roll up their windows at high speeds – e.g., while on the highway or above 50 MPH – but also advises motorists to roll down their windows under 45 MPH.
As for the freeway, a 2005 study commissioned by Consumer Reports discovered that open windows will decrease gas mileage at a rate equivalent to the strain most air conditioners place on an engine. A study by Edmunds.com bolstered those findings later that year.
The Bottom Line: When in the fast lane, drivers can open their windows or turn on their A/C with a roughly equitable impact – ultimately, it seems that those driving over 50 MPH can make the choice with which they are most comfortable. At slower speeds – say, picking the kids up from school or going to the grocery store – some open windows could offer you some gas savings.
Of course, the greenest option is to forego the car and employ public transportation, bikes, or your own two feet – just saying.
Do you have a dilemma you’d like to pose to “Versus”? Please comment!
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