10 Tips for Better Fuel Economy
1. Brake Less – This is my favorite. It means anticipate the traffic ahead and take your foot off of the gas pedal (saving fuel) and braking less, which also saves on replacing your brakes as often.
2. Don’t Drive as Fast – Driving at 62 MPH vs. 75 MPH saves 15% on your fuel bill.
3. [...]
Vampire Energy
Do you have electrical devices that are sucking energy even when they’re off? It’s likely that you do and they’re called energy vampires or phantom loads. The biggest culprits are TV’s, DVD players and game consoles. These devices can use 5 to 10% of your total energy consumption every month while they are not being [...]
Two Energy Saving Tips
I recently read an old article on the NY Times website about getting your dishes clean with your dishwasher. However, at the end of the article was a great energy saving tip. I’ve always hated using the drying cycle on the dishwasher because it consumes so much energy. So, instead of letting the dishwasher dry [...]
Eat Green: Preserve Summer’s Bounty
Seven years ago, I dreamed of canning my own food. But I knew absolutely nothing about preserving food, and truth be told it seemed like such a complex endeavor, and so much work, that I was intimidated about getting started.
However, I teamed up with a friend and together we tackled our first canning project: peach [...]
The Power of Renting, Swapping, and Sharing
Stop and think about what’s in your garage. There’s likely a ladder, a few spare gas cans, plenty of hand and power tools, rakes, a lawnmower, a leafblower, snow shovels, regular shovels, watering cans…you get the picture. It’s full of stuff.
Now, think about what’s probably in your neighbor’s garage. It’s likely their garage are full [...]
Which is Greener: E-Readers or Print Books?
In December alone, Amazon sold over 4 million Kindles. And it’s hard to guess how many other e-readers and tablet devices, like the iPad2, were purchased. However, it’s safe to say that e-readers, and e-books, are a societal norm. They’re devices that most everyone wants to have.
However, is it better to buy one of these [...]
What Toxic Chemicals are Lurking In Your Products?
Next time you’re at the stove about to cook some tasty eggs for breakfast, you might want to think twice about using a non-stick pan.
According to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, and overviewed on the National Resources Defense Council website, states that the toxic chemicals found in many [...]
How to Reduce Christmas Trash
Did you know that Americans generate 25% more trash during the winter holiday season? It’s probably not hard to see why: we’re buying gifts (which often come in plastic or cardboard boxes), we’re wrapping presents (and then throwing all that paper away), cooking more food, sending boxes through the mail…we just consume more during the [...]
Could You Have a No-Buy Holiday?
I ran into Target the other day and there it was: the Christmas section where the grills and patio furniture used to be. And, the expanded toy section. As soon as Halloween is over, apparently, the Christmas buying season begins.
Even though I love the winter holiday season, I also get frustrated by the rampant consumerism [...]
How Much Food Do YOU Waste?
When it comes to wasting food, Americans are downright pros. We throw out, on average, 25% of all the food we produce in this country. As shockingly high as that number is, a University of Arizona study actually puts this number closer to 50%.
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