Summer in the City: Air Conditioning or Open Windows?
When temperatures start to rise, fleet drivers have one of two options: they can crank the air conditioning or open windows. We’ve all heard that opening windows is more environmentally-friendly solution because air conditioning requires a running engine, and a running engine takes fuel.
The answer isn’t as cut and dry as you might expect, but it’s very simple.
“When you’re driving across town in stop-and-go traffic,” says Frank Hampshire, Director of Market Research with the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), “it’s more fuel efficient to drive with the air conditioning off, windows down.” More specifically, when your vehicle is travelling at 40 miles per hour, or slower.[i]
But once you hit the open road of the highway and your speed starts to increase, aerodynamics become a factor. Go over 45 miles per hour and open windows will create drag, reducing fuel efficiency by 10 percent. Go over 55 miles per hour with your windows down and you’ll reduce fuel efficiency by 20 percent. [ii]
[i] http://www.bankrate.com/finance/auto/will-rolling-down-windows-save-fuel-or-not.aspx
[ii] http://www.bankrate.com/finance/auto/will-rolling-down-windows-save-fuel-or-not.aspx
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