Flex your Power at the Pump is a state initiative supported by many organizations and agencies around the state, including APCD. For more information see www.fypower.org/save_gasoline/.

Gasoline and diesel prices in California rose 44% between December 2003 and May 2004.

California's more than 18 million automobiles consume more than 14 billion gallons of gasoline each year — enough gasoline to fill a line of tanker trucks stretched bumper to bumper from San Francisco to San Diego and back.

Here are three no-cost actions you can take right away to reduce your gas consumption by up to 15 percent!

• Keep tires properly inflated to the recommended pressure.
• Use the car's air conditioner selectively.
• Observe the posted speed limits. It's safer and saves gas.

Here are some more no-cost ideas:

• Accelerate smoothly and brake gradually. It's safer, uses less gas and reduces brake wear.
• Properly maintain your vehicle. Replace air and oil filters as recommended.
• Minimize the amount of time your vehicle idles. For example, consider parking the car instead of using the "drive-up" lanes.

And here are some ideas if you want to do more:

• Make your next car a fuel-efficient, low-emission one. Check out www.driveclean.ca.gov and www.epa.gov/greenvehicles, and go to A Clean-Air Car Primer on this website for more info and links.
• Drive less. See www.trafficsolutions.info and www.santabarbaracarfree.org for weekday and weekend transportation options.

To see more on the Flex Your Power at the Pump program, go to www.fypower.org/save_gasoline/.