The SAE found that running an air conditioner in an automobile decreased gas mileage by 5 to 10%. Stanford University and SAE both recommend driving with your car’s windows down if you are traveling on city streets. However, when on a freeway or highway, the drag produced by your windows being rolled down exceeds the efficiency drop by keeping windows rolled up and AC on. Both organizations recommend that you use your car’s AC when driving at speeds above 45 MPH.