12 Common Outdoor Design Choices That Are Decreasing Your Car’s Fuel Efficiency

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Outdoor design is about designing outdoor spaces that are beautiful and functional, and that add value to your home. However, if I told you that some of your landscaping and driveway choices might be creeping into your car’s fuel efficiency, you might be surprised. It may sound crazy, but the way your yard is designed can actually affect how much gas your car guzzles.

Now let’s go over the often ignored link between what you choose to design for your outdoor space and how it affects how much fuel your car consumes.

Gravel Driveways

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While gravel driveways might look good and rustic, they’re not exactly car friendly. An uneven surface will increase the rolling resistance, something that makes your car work harder (and burn more fuel) to keep moving. When you back out or pull into your driveway every time you do so you’re shaving a little bit off your fuel efficiency. Asphalt and concrete paved surfaces help offer an opportunity for a smoother ride on a less strenuous vehicle from a surface perspective.

Oversized Trees Blocking Wind Flow

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There’s nothing like the shade of a large tree, but if they’re snuffing out natural wind flow, your car’s getting hot. If your driveway is surrounded by heat without proper ventilation, your car’s cooling system will already be working overtime before you even get on the road. A tree can cool down the yard if it is well placed, but an oversized one that traps hot air can do just the opposite.

Driveway Obstacles

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If you’ve adorned your driveway with boulders, planters, or other decorative elements, you might be doing more harm than good. There are obstacles that force you to drive around them, resulting in extra stops and starts. And guess what? Braking and accelerating again eats away at your fuel efficiency every time. Maintain an open pathway for a long, productive drive.

Poor Lighting

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It isn’t just frustrating to drive on a poorly lit driveway in the dark, it will also waste gas. Constantly straining to see or constantly tapping the brakes because you’re unsure of your surroundings can add up over time. Good outdoor lighting isn’t just for safety; it lets you pull in and out without hesitation, without having to stop and start.

Textured Pavers

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While textured or uneven pavers can look great and sleek, they can hurt your tires, because your tires lose traction. This is just like gravel, adding some friction and increasing rolling resistance, making your engine to work harder. If you like the look of pavers, go with smooth ones or use them for pedestrian walkways, rather than driveways.

Excessive Mulch in Driveways

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Mulch in your driveway, believe it or not, can make it harder for your car to gain traction. While some homeowners fill in gaps or add aesthetic purposes with mulch, it can cause wheel slippage. The harder your tires have to work to grip, the more it costs you in gas. Use materials such as gravel or concrete that your tires can get a proper surface to grip on.

Decorative Fountains Around Driveway

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While a decorative fountain may add a bit of panache to the garden, it can have the unintended consequence of causing water to squirt or trickle onto your driveway. Wet surfaces can contribute to increased likelihood of tire slippage, and therefore decreased fuel efficiency. And water and car tires aren’t a natural pair. Place your water features carefully so you don’t turn your driveway into a slip and slide for your car.

Narrow Driveways

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Narrow driveways are neat and tidy, but they can create some tight squeeze situations. You’re constantly adjusting, reversing, and trying to squeeze your way in and this wastes gas on extra idling and frequent braking. If you can, expand your driveway a little. The less fuel your car burns, the easier it is to navigate.

Steep Inclines

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Steep inclines on driveways may look dramatic, but they’re a drain on the gas tank of your car. The steeper the hill, the harder your engine has to work, and if you have to hit the gas just to get up your driveway, it’s that much harder. If the engine always has to be revved up to deal with steep slopes over time this will decrease fuel efficiency. It’s also easier on your car and your wallet.

Overly Long Driveways

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If you have a long driveway, it may seem grand to have one, but an extra long one is a waste of fuel, especially if you’re making multiple trips each day. Whenever you drive up and down that stretch of pavement, you’re using more gas than you need to. You can even consider cutting down on the length, or at least make it more direct to avoid time spent driving on your own property.

Tall Hedges and Fences

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Hedges and fences that are tall work great for privacy, but they also block natural wind currents that would otherwise cool down your car. It can turn your vehicle into an oven in the summer months, leaving you using air conditioning from the get go. Choose shorter, more breathable barriers that let you breath and keep out prying eyes.

Inadequate Drainage

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If you have bad drainage around your driveway, standing water when driven over can lead to hydroplaning or tire slippage. Not only is it dangerous to drive, but your car also has to use more power to move. Proper drainage will keep your driveway from getting soaked and making it easier to navigate, which will help with fuel efficiency.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.

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