AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Central Texas has already experienced winter-type temperatures during the first full week of January. And, we aren't done with it. Not by a long shot. With the colder months comes the need to ensure your vehicle is ready to handle these temperatures and the potential winter precipitation that could happen. But it's just as important to be mindful of our environment. Stephanie Dempsey is the Educational and Outreach Coordinator for Take Care of Texas. She joins Rich Segal to offer tips on what you can do to take care of your automobile. She offers practical and eco-friendly advice to maximize fuel efficiency while also keeping you safe on the road. One of her tips is the importance of waxing your car. The wax provides a barrier to help prevent winter precipitation from accumulating on the surface of the car. Doing this eliminates the need for harsh chemical deicers and also minimize the amount of water needed to get rid of the snow and ice. Deicers are substances that can melt ice or can stop it from forming. This happens by lowering the freezing point of water. Deicers are used on roads, sidewalks, parking lots and more. It's a win-win. Your car gets a good cleaning and you get to be eco-friendly doing something you already do in other times of the year. Stephanie also offers some green tips on how to protect your windshield and even how to protect the windshield wipers. There's also a suggestion to visit a commercial car wash. You can learn why by logging on to the Take Care of Texas website for why.