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A Convenient Reality Workshop
A Convenient Reality Workshop
A Convenient Reality Workshop
A Convenient Reality Workshop
A Convenient Reality Workshop
A Convenient Reality Workshop
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Tips From "A
Convenient Reality"
Workshop
Tuesday, November 6th, 6 p.m.
Save green while you go green!
Everyday - Fast, Easy, Effective
Create Habits - Turn water faucets
and lights off when not in use, keep doors and
windows shut, close-off unused spaces, use microwave
for heating water, keep refrigerator filled (use
water-filled milk jugs) and keep the door firmly
shut, save water creatively (water bottles in toilet
tank), turn down your hot water heater, use less
heat/AC, use a ceiling fan to circulate
heated/cooled air (clockwise during the Summer,
counter-clockwise during the Winter), unplug
electronics when not in use, turn off the TV and
shut-down the computer, air dry dishes, wash clothes
in cold water, dry on low heat and always empty your
lint trap before drying, make sure vents and cold
air returns are not obstructed, don’t litter, walk
or bicycle more frequently, drive conservatively
Small Investments - Fast Returns
Rechargeable Batteries
Replace Furnace Filters (make sure it’s ventilated,
too)
Compact Fluorescent Lighting (CFLs) - Change bulbs
that get used the most first, especially if you keep
a light on 24/7. Florescent “shop” lighting
fixtures work great for high output areas like
basement and garage.
Power Strips - Plug in chargers/home electronics to
simplify turning truly “off” (or always unplug)
Add Faucet Aerators & Water Saving Showerheads
Insulate your Hot Water Heater (make sure you turn
the thermostat down, ensure that it’s ventilated,
and strap it in to avoid tipping over during an
earthquake)
Insulate/Caulk/Weatherstrip - drafts, windows,
doors, plumbing and electrical points
Moderate Investments - Big Savings
Programmable Thermostat
Insulate where you can - attic, basement
sills/crawlspace
Storm Windows & Storm Doors
Install Ceiling Fans
Install Motion Detector Lighting
Major Investments - Larger Payoff and
Increased Home Value
Finish all unfinished spaces -
insulate with moisture barrier and vapor barrier,
insulate all pipes to prevent condensation, insulate
basement ceiling, blow-in additional insulation down
existing walls
Replace Old Toilets
Replace Windows/Doors
New Major Appliances - use your Energy Star tax
credits!
Landscape - create a “microclimate” with shade trees
and wind-protecting bushes
New Construction? Build efficient!
New Car? Buy efficient!
Interested in renewable energy?
Check out Ameren UE’s new Pure Power program.
For an additional 1.5 cents per kilowatt hour your
electricity will be 75% wind, 25% other renewables;
as opposed to 100% fossil fuels!
Call Ameren UE for information
1-800 552-7583
www.ameren.com
or
www.ameren.com/PurePower/ADC_default.asp
Driving Tips for Increased Fuel Economy
Don’t speed.
Wind resistance roughly doubles between 55 mph and
70 mph. For example if there is a constant 200 lbs
of fuel-robbing wind pressure at 55, then there will
be more than 400 lbs fighting you going 70. As a
rule of thumb, consider driving the speed limit or
lower, if traffic conditions will allow.
Avoid “Hard” Accelerations from Stops.
Flooring the gas pedal wastes gas and leads to
drastically higher pollution rates. This is where
you kill your mileage numbers. Accelerate as
gradually as practical, gradually backing off the
accelerator as you increase speed. Accelerate more
slowly if there is no traffic behind you.
Climbing Hills.
Big
hills are the second main mpg-killer. Don’t
maintain speed climbing hills. If you know a hill is
ahead, gradually increase your speed on your
approach. As you climb the hill, gradually slow
down and try to time it so the minimum acceptable
speed is reached near the top. If the traffic is
extremely light, you can let your speed really sag.
If you reach the top of a tall hill and find a short
flat area that leads to another big hill, you are at
a disadvantage because of your minimum speed.
Accelerate as gradually as you can on the flat
area—and time the next crest as you did for the
first hill.
Anticipate stops/change of speed. Think ahead to anticipate stops so your vehicle can coast down.
Accelerating hard and braking hard wastes gas,
increases pollution, and wears out your brakes. Leave plenty of room to the vehicle in front of you.
If the traffic ahead slows, you will have a buffer
to maintain momentum and conserve energy, allowing
you to plan ahead. As an added bonus, the vehicle
in front of you won't be kicking rocks on your car,
and you’ll have much more time to react to an
accident.
Avoid rush hour,
if possible. Stop-and-go driving burns gas and
increases emissions of smog-forming pollutants. For
hybrids that can stay in electric mode at low
speeds, the effects of stop-and-go driving are
greatly reduced.
Keep your tires properly inflated.
For every 3 pounds below recommended pressure, fuel
economy goes down by about 1 percent.
Travel light.
An extra 100 pounds in your trunk reduces fuel
economy by about 1 percent.
Combine trips.
Warmed-up engines run more efficiently and generate
less air pollution.
Check your own fuel economy.
Challenge yourself to get better mileage,
and get an annual tune-up.
Use the Lowest Octane Gasoline Recommended.
Expensive, higher-octane gasoline and ethanol blends
burn at a faster rate and can cause damage to your
engine if it is not meant to run on “premium” or
ethanol. Use the octane rating suggested by your
manufacturer for best gas mileage.
Air
Conditioning & Windshield Defroster.
The A/C system decreases your mileage at
any speed, but especially at city speeds. Consider
opening your windows and not using A/C at city
speeds. At highway speeds, using your vents without
A/C will save the most fuel; but using A/C with the
windows up will save more than no A/C and an open
window due to drag. Many people don’t realize that
the A/C compressor is automatically turned on when
the heater is set to defrost and the fan is set to
ON. This is so the moisture that has condensed on
the windows will evaporate faster. Use your
defroster setting only when necessary to conserve
fuel. Running your heat on the floor or vents does
not affect mileage. Lastly, be sure the air
conditioning or defroster is off while climbing a
hill.
Don’t “Idle”. Avoid the temptation to start
your car more than a minute or two before you’re
ready to depart so that your heat or A/C has time to
fill the interior. In general, idling for more than
a minute wastes more gas than simply restarting the
car. Long periods idling wastes fuel and is not
good for your engine.
Hybrid Hype?
Not all hybrids are created equal. If in the market
for a new vehicle, shop around and find the most
fuel efficient in the class you require. Consider a
motorcycle or motor scooter. A 1200cc Harley
Davidson gets 57 mpg! Your mid-life crisis may
benefit the environment!
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