Part 5 – What YOU can do
HorseWoman of Oil
Modern cars are more efficient then the cars of old, so here are some tips and tricks to save that precious green.
• Drive the speed limit and coast into stops. You use more gas every time your foot is on the gas pedal, so take it easy and save that fuel.
• Try to avoid traffic on busy days or times when it is raining, windy or barometric pressure is high. Rain and high barometric pressure create extra air drag that uses more fuel to create and maintain forward motion.
• Know your wind direction. Driving against the wind is harder for your car to get forward momentum.
• Drive behind semi-trailers at a safe distance. Driving directly behind an 8-wheeler increases your fuel efficiency by letting the 8-wheeler cut through the air currents so you don’t have to. Just remember to always keep at a safe distance and keep the semi’s mirrors in view. No tailgating.
• Clean out your car, keep your car in tune and fully inflate your tires. All these things can help your car live longer and use less fuel over the life of your car. That extra weight worth of objects in your car takes more effort to move.
• Turn off your car if you’re idling. You waste ½ mile worth of gas for every minute you’re idling.
• CARPOOL!! Or at least line up errands so you can get it done as efficiently as possible.
• Take public transportation or walk to your destination.
• Buy products that have minimal packaging. The more plastic around it, the more oil is wasted to produce the good.
• Buy natural fiber clothing. Synthetics are oil-based.
• Buy locally. The less your goods have to travel, the better.
HorseWoman of Water
With water, using less is more. Use these tips to conserve your water usage.
• Use the water saving settings on your dishwasher and washing machines.
• Only use your dishwasher and washing machines when you’ve got a full load or choose setting for size of load.
• Never put water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as watering a plant or garden, or cleaning.
• Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. If your faucet is dripping at the rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year.
• Don’t let water run while shaving, brushing your teeth or washing your face. Simple and effective.
• Take shorter showers and wash hair only when needed. Shampooing hair everyday can strip the natural oils from your scalp. Every other day is usually just as good, depending on your hair type.
• Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or by using the defrost setting on your microwave.
• Instead of buying costly bottled water by the container, get a large 5-gallon tank and fill it at the water filter vending machines for 25 cents a gallon. Keep a pitcher of it in the fridge for a cool refreshing drink on demand.
• Save your toilet water usage by filling a two-liter bottle with gravel and place in your toilet tank. The toilet will flush just as well.
• Verify that your home is leak-free, because many homes have hidden water leaks. Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.
HorseWoman of Energy
These are only a choice few options how you can lower your energy costs.
• Set your washing machine settings to a cold/cold cycle. Not only will this save energy but it also helps get rid of stains and keeps colors brighter longer.
• Adjust your water heater to 140 degrees, which is still hot enough to kill bacteria.
• Fill your refrigerator. An empty fridge actually wastes more energy to cool empty space then a filled fridge. The food acts like insulation.
• Always cover everything in your fridge. Humidity escapes from uncovered foods. The compressor must work harder to remove the excess humidity.
• Replace appliances with energy-efficient models. When old models wear out, replace them with appliances that have earned the Energy Star label.
• Unplug any appliance when not in use. Interestingly enough, appliances use an incredible amount of energy when turned off. Cell phone adapters, hair dryers, televisions, etc. all pull energy when not in use. Curtail this by unplugging them.
• Open windows at night, to take advantage of naturally cool night air when possible.
• Insulation is important. Make sure your home has the appropriate amount of insulation in walls, attics and crawl spaces.
• Maintain 78ºF (26ºC) in the summer. For every degree you lower the temperature, the energy costs rise by 6 percent. A temperature setting of 75ºF (24ºC) costs 18 percent more; a 72ºF (22ºC) setting costs 36 percent more.
• Use a programmable thermostat. No need to run the air conditioner when no one is home. Set timers to have the air conditioning come on 30 minutes before anyone arrives home.
• Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs in light fixtures used the most. The normal incandescent bulbs we’re all used to are not very energy efficient. Compact fluorescent bulbs use about 25 percent of the energy and can last 10 times as long.
HorseWoman of Food
Lower food bills means selecting wisely. Use these tips to get the most from your monthly food budget.
• Plan your week’s menus ahead of time. Bringing a list of the ingredients you need may stave off those impulse buys.
• Try for two-three nights a week without meat. Get a few different veggie dishes your family loves and keep those a part of your weekly menus. Greek, Indian, and Asian foods all have a lot of tasty veggie dishes. Not only will this lower your food bill (since veggies are cheaper) but this will also lower your carbon footprint.
• Buy your meat products mid-week. Grocery stores have their sales mid-week to clear out the meats that are on the edge of turning. Freeze these immediately if you aren’t going to cook that night.
• Buy store-brand. Store brand goods are just as good, if not exactly the same as the name brand. Stores will privately label the exact same product from a manufacturer but sell it much cheaper.
• Shop the perimeter of the grocery store – bakery, deli, produce, etc. Not only are these the freshest items, they are also less likely to have preservatives and bulky packaging.
• Use coupons only for items you need. Coupons are designed to get you to buy the product that you may not have considered. This will lead you to buy un-necessary items which you could have easily lived without.
• Use your loyalty card in combination with the advertised sales. Even though you are giving up your anonymity, you save much more then without it.
• Shop farmers markets! This is a double whammy of a tip. Not only is the food local and fresh but it’s also much cheaper too.
• Start a garden. Even a small herb garden on your windowsill saves money and provides you with fresh produce and cleans your air.
