{domain:"www.qualitydigest.com",server:"169.47.211.87"} Skip to main content

User account menu
Main navigation
  • Topics
    • Customer Care
    • FDA Compliance
    • Healthcare
    • Innovation
    • Lean
    • Management
    • Metrology
    • Operations
    • Risk Management
    • Six Sigma
    • Standards
    • Statistics
    • Supply Chain
    • Sustainability
    • Training
  • Videos/Webinars
    • All videos
    • Product Demos
    • Webinars
  • Advertise
    • Advertise
    • Submit B2B Press Release
    • Write for us
  • Metrology Hub
  • Training
  • Subscribe
  • Log in
Mobile Menu
  • Home
  • Topics
    • 3D Metrology-CMSC
    • Customer Care
    • FDA Compliance
    • Healthcare
    • Innovation
    • Lean
    • Management
    • Metrology
    • Operations
    • Risk Management
    • Six Sigma
    • Standards
    • Statistics
    • Supply Chain
    • Sustainability
    • Training
  • Login / Subscribe
  • More...
    • All Features
    • All News
    • All Videos
    • Contact
    • Training

Does Turning Off Air Conditioning in Your Car and Opening the Windows Save Fuel?

That depends

SAE International
Tue, 08/18/2015 - 11:04
  • Comment
  • RSS

Social Sharing block

  • Print
  • Add new comment
Body

(SAE: Warrendale, PA) -- Consumers continue to be concerned about the fuel consumption of their vehicles, yet many are unaware of the effect that accessories have on fuel consumption. Vehicle air conditioning (A/C) is one of the highest energy-consuming accessories and has become standard equipment for vehicles.

ADVERTISEMENT

Members of the SAE International Interior Climate Control Standards Committee authored an article discussing automobile fuel consumption and A/C. The choice of how you use (or don’t use) the A/C involves your and your passengers’ comfort. There are many factors that effect how much fuel is used, including the specific vehicle fuel use (MPG rating) for the type of driving, as well as temperature and humidity conditions.

The energy required to provide comfort in a vehicle depends on many factors, such as the load on the A/C system, which is a function of the fan setting, the outside ambient temperature and humidity, and the speed of the vehicle, among other variables. The fuel consumption of the A/C will vary greatly depending on the weather conditions and also on traffic patterns typical of a given city.

So can you save fuel by not running the A/C? That depends.

 …

Want to continue?
Log in or create a FREE account.
Enter your username or email address
Enter the password that accompanies your username.
By logging in you agree to receive communication from Quality Digest. Privacy Policy.
Create a FREE account
Forgot My Password

Comments

Submitted by dkhays on Fri, 08/21/2015 - 08:03

Word usage, and more

the word effect is a noun, the word affect is the verb.  Effect was used several times as a verb in this article.  http://web.ku.edu/~edit/affect.html 

In another comment, the upside down graphs are harder to comprehend, why was mpg used in lieu of amount of fuel? 

It has been know for a long time that driving with the windows down uses more fuel than using the airconditioner.  I guess you are trying to say that if the AC unit is run at high cooling and fan it uses more fuel and may be about even to driving with the windows down.  Do many run low fan, recirculate, in lieu of high fan and no recirculate?  I usually run recirculate when I wnat to cool down in a hurry.

The noise level increases considerably with the windows down.  If the temperature outside is cooler than your mid-90's example, then a mix might be used.  At highway speeds, there rarely is anyone driving with the windows down due to the noise.  Way back when I was a child, AC units wern't in every vehicle, and we had to run with windows down. 

  • Reply

Add new comment

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
Please login to comment.
      

© 2025 Quality Digest. Copyright on content held by Quality Digest or by individual authors. Contact Quality Digest for reprint information.
“Quality Digest" is a trademark owned by Quality Circle Institute Inc.

footer
  • Home
  • Print QD: 1995-2008
  • Print QD: 2008-2009
  • Videos
  • Privacy Policy
  • Write for us
footer second menu
  • Subscribe to Quality Digest
  • About Us
  • Contact Us