Like most people who drive a new or used hybrid Toyota, when the sun comes out you are probably looking for a way to cool down the interior of your car. Even on fall days, the sun can really create some heat. Most owners of a hybrid Toyota from their St Louis Toyota dealer worry about the extra energy used when the air conditioning is running, and they choose to vent the car through the windows. So, is this really a good environmental choice?

Air conditioning can do a lot to keep you comfortable inside of a hot car. The cool air quietly lowers the temperature, allowing you to beat the heat while not having to lower the windows and have your hair or papers blown around. Air conditioning takes a lot of power, however, and it uses more gas than driving without it.

If you’re looking to release some heat from the interior, there’s not much that works more quickly than rolling down the windows of your hybrid Toyota and letting air in. If you are driving, the air will move even faster and will cool your car even more. Moving air also feels cooler than air that is still, so even when it is warm out, the moving air can keep you comfortable as you drive. While this sounds like a great way to cool your car off in the Missouri sun, there is another thing you should consider. Having the windows of your hybrid Toyota open as you drive through Kirkwood and St Louis will increase the drag on the car. This can make you use just as much gas as your air conditioner does, if you can believe it!

As you drive your new or used hybrid Toyota through St Louis, pay attention to your speed. At slower speeds, it’s more energy efficient to use your windows, but at higher speeds air conditioning is actually better for the environment. Wind drag can really affect fuel usage, so make the greenest choice you can.