SLOW DOWN! Even a five-mile-per-hour decrease in speed can affect your gas mileage. Watch your tachometer to gauge engine performance. You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.30 per gallon for gas. (Remember the song "DRIVE 55)
Keep tires properly inflated. Under-inflated tires can cut fuel economy by a half percent per pound of pressure below recommended levels.
Give your car a full tune-up, as recommended by the manufacturer, including a regular oil and oil filter change. A poorly tuned engine can increase fuel consumption by up to 50 percent or more.
Do not purchase mid-grade or premium gasoline unless it is considered necessary by the vehicle's manufacturer. Using self-serve regular fuel compared to premium can save an average of 17 cents per gallon.
Don't let the vehicle idle for more than a minute. Idling consumes half -a-gallon to one gallon of gas per hour and wastes more fuel than restarting the engine. Idling gets 0 miles per gallon!
Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.
When you use overdrive gearing, your car's engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces engine wear.
Accelerate gently, brake gradually and avoid hard stops.
Combine errands into one trip or go to the one location to take care of as many errands as possible.
When traveling, avoid excess weight and reduce use of car top carriers and trailers. Additional weight and vehicle add-ons have a negative effect on aerodynamics, causing engines to work harder and burn more gas. (HINT only fill thr tank to 1/2 fuel-less weight)
Car pool when possible.
Travel during off-peak times, avoiding rush hour.
Check the engine oil level when buying gas to be sure the engine is lubricated properly.
Large trucks -- which pull heavy loads and are less aerodynamic than cars -- see even greater gains in fuel efficiency with decreased speed. For every 1 mph increase above 55 mph, fuel efficiency generally decreases 2.2 percent.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Natural Drain Cleaner
Wish there was something besides harsh chemical drain
cleaners to keep your pipes clear? There is!
Pour 1 cup of baking soda down a clogged drain followed by
3 cups boiling water. Repeat.
Still clogged? Add foaming action. Follow the baking soda
with 1 cup white vinegar. Then cover the drain so the mix-
ture doesn't bubble out. Leave overnight, then flush with a
couple cups of boiling water.
cleaners to keep your pipes clear? There is!
Pour 1 cup of baking soda down a clogged drain followed by
3 cups boiling water. Repeat.
Still clogged? Add foaming action. Follow the baking soda
with 1 cup white vinegar. Then cover the drain so the mix-
ture doesn't bubble out. Leave overnight, then flush with a
couple cups of boiling water.
Mold-fighting tips for you
Commercial mold killers usually include Sodium Hypochlorite
(bleach) and Sodium Hydroxide. They are highly corrosive.
Sodium hypochlorite is very toxic to fish. So before you go
soaking your bathroom with these poisons and rinsing them
down the drain, consider some more environmentally friendly
options below.
A teaspoon of environmentally gentle dishwashing liquid
and a teaspoon of borax mixed with one quart warm water;
pour into a spray bottle, soak the affected area for as
long as possible; rinse and air dry.
One tablespoon of eucalyptus oil, one tablespoon of
methylated spirits and two cups of water mixed together
and placed in a spray bottle; apply and leave to dry.
This works great if you have tough spots that
won't come clean with a spray bottle and need scouring,
like maybe grout or tile.
It's the dynamic duo of vinegar and baking soda to the
rescue again. Pour 1 part vinegar and 1 part warm water
into a bowl, then add 2 parts baking soda to make a thick
paste. Apply and leave to dry, then scrub off. Repeat if
the mold is particularly stubborn.
(bleach) and Sodium Hydroxide. They are highly corrosive.
Sodium hypochlorite is very toxic to fish. So before you go
soaking your bathroom with these poisons and rinsing them
down the drain, consider some more environmentally friendly
options below.
A teaspoon of environmentally gentle dishwashing liquid
and a teaspoon of borax mixed with one quart warm water;
pour into a spray bottle, soak the affected area for as
long as possible; rinse and air dry.
One tablespoon of eucalyptus oil, one tablespoon of
methylated spirits and two cups of water mixed together
and placed in a spray bottle; apply and leave to dry.
This works great if you have tough spots that
won't come clean with a spray bottle and need scouring,
like maybe grout or tile.
It's the dynamic duo of vinegar and baking soda to the
rescue again. Pour 1 part vinegar and 1 part warm water
into a bowl, then add 2 parts baking soda to make a thick
paste. Apply and leave to dry, then scrub off. Repeat if
the mold is particularly stubborn.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Things to Recycle That You Never Thought You Could
1. Vintage doorknobs, radiators, windows and mantels: Donate or sell classic architectural elements to salvage firms or restoration projects.
2. Toothbrushes: Recycline manufacturers its Preserve toothbrush from Stonyfield Farm yogurt containers; return each worn-out brush in a postage-paid envelope and it will be repurposed into plastic lumber.
3. Foam packaging: Lightweight "peanuts" made from expanded polystyrene (EPS) contain 25 to 100 percent recycled material.
4. Sneakers: Nike's Reuse-a-Shoe program turns used athletic footwear (no cleats) into a material called Nike Grind, used to surface playgrounds, running tracks and outdoor courts.
5. Wine corks: Yemm & Hart, which produces recycled building materials, turns used corks into floor and wall tiles.
6. Motor oil: Recycled motor oil can find new life as a lubricant or fuel.
7. Formal dresses: Charities like Chicago's Glass Slipper Project and New York City's Operation Fairy Dust accept donated gowns, shoes and purses to provide free prom wear to low-income teens.
8. Eyeglasses, frames and cases: To any Lions Club.
9. Computers, cell phones and other e-waste: Staples, Office Depot and Best Buy offer in-store e-waste recycling -- Best Buy also recycles used appliances. Dell, Toshiba and Sony lead the way in recycling computer products. Cellphones to The Wireless Foundation.
2. Toothbrushes: Recycline manufacturers its Preserve toothbrush from Stonyfield Farm yogurt containers; return each worn-out brush in a postage-paid envelope and it will be repurposed into plastic lumber.
3. Foam packaging: Lightweight "peanuts" made from expanded polystyrene (EPS) contain 25 to 100 percent recycled material.
4. Sneakers: Nike's Reuse-a-Shoe program turns used athletic footwear (no cleats) into a material called Nike Grind, used to surface playgrounds, running tracks and outdoor courts.
5. Wine corks: Yemm & Hart, which produces recycled building materials, turns used corks into floor and wall tiles.
6. Motor oil: Recycled motor oil can find new life as a lubricant or fuel.
7. Formal dresses: Charities like Chicago's Glass Slipper Project and New York City's Operation Fairy Dust accept donated gowns, shoes and purses to provide free prom wear to low-income teens.
8. Eyeglasses, frames and cases: To any Lions Club.
9. Computers, cell phones and other e-waste: Staples, Office Depot and Best Buy offer in-store e-waste recycling -- Best Buy also recycles used appliances. Dell, Toshiba and Sony lead the way in recycling computer products. Cellphones to The Wireless Foundation.
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