Could you please elaborate on the question, "Does APU save fuel?" Are you referring to an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) used in aircraft or some other type of APU? In the context of aircraft, an APU is a small gas turbine engine that provides power to an aircraft's electrical and pneumatic systems when the main engines are not running. It is commonly used during ground operations to reduce the need for ground power sources and can also be used in-flight as a backup power source.
If we're discussing fuel savings in the context of aircraft APUs, it's important to note that while an APU does consume fuel, it is generally more efficient than using ground power or taxiing the aircraft's main engines to provide power. This can lead to fuel savings in certain situations, such as when an aircraft is parked at the gate for an extended period of time or when ground power is not available.
However, the extent of fuel savings will depend on a variety of factors, such as the length of time the APU is running, the efficiency of the APU, and the cost of fuel compared to the cost of ground power. It's also worth noting that the use of an APU can increase maintenance costs and emissions, so it's important to weigh these factors when considering whether to use an APU or another power source.