For every gallon of gas you burn you release about 20 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. If you take a 1,000-mile road trip, this adds up to 10 tons of CO2 pollution. That is why getting good gas mileage, especially on a long road trip, is so important. If you are planning on doing any serious driving for your honeymoon, the following tips can help you get better gas mileage and decrease your overall environmental foot print.

Get a Tune Up. Before you hit the road, take your car in for a full tune up. According to The Green Consumer, by Elkington, Hailes and Makower, a well-tuned car can get 10% better gas mileage than poorly tuned one.

Inflate Your Tires. Before you leave and at least once while you’re on the road, check your tire pressure. A study by the U.S. Department of Transportation found that more than 25% of cars are driving with at least one “substantially underinflated” tire. In addition to being hazardous, low air pressure can decrease gas mileage by 5%. Over long distances this can really add up, causing more pollution and costing you money.

Shed Winter Weight. Unless you plan to drive through snowy areas, the lighter your car is, the better in terms of gas mileage, so take those bricks out of the trunk before you leave.

Responsibly Change Your Oil. Just one quart of oil, when poured down a storm drain, can kill fish and other aquatic life and contaminate up to 2 million gallons of drinking water. Instead of changing your own oil by the side of the road, take your car to a reputable business.

Get Better Road Side Assistance. Instead of using AAA, join the Better World Club (www.betterworldclub.com), which provides the same services: emergency roadside assistance, insurances, and free maps to both motorists and bicyclists. The difference? The Better World Club doesn’t spend your money lobbying congress for lower emissions standards.

Use Alternative Fuels. If you have a diesel car, find a station that sells plant-derived biodiesel. If you’re traveling in California or Arizona, you can find fueling stations for all kinds of alternative fuel vehicles with Clean Car Maps.

Accident/Medical: Covers the costs of medical expenses incurred while on a trip. Good medical insurance also provides emergency transportation coverage and has a hotline you can call from your destination country.

Baggage/Personal Effects Loss or Delay: Provides money for lost or damaged baggage and often includes a stipend for buying essentials in the event your baggage is delayed.

Delay Insurance: Covers the cost of hotel and traveling expenses incurred due to unforeseen delay.

Supplier Default: Covers all or a percentage of money lost due to a travel provider going out of business. This is important, because although most providers offer their own insurance, many supplier protection plans pay nothing if the company goes bankrupt. If you purchase a supplier plan make sure to read the fine print!

Trip Cancellation: This is the most common type of travel insurance. It typically covers non-refundable deposits and expenses but only if the trip is cancelled or interrupted for an unforeseen reason external to the traveler (like an earthquake).