How to cut your energy consumption and cost by around 50%

1-     Carpool if possible. Just having only 2 people in a vehicle will reduce both persons gas costs and use by 50%
A note about Ride Share programs:
Try to avoid the state run "Ride Share" programs were the organization provides the van. It will usually cost you more( closer to what you are paying on your own) than a private car pool and they usually use clumsy gas guzzling vehicles, so the energy savings just isn't there, most peoples cars will use much less fuel in the first place, so you will all save if you use you own vehicle. Most Ride Share programs have well paid administrations that you will wind up paying for too. 
A few ways to find people to ride with is; To post a note in your local post office or your workplace. When you fill up with gas try to see if someone is going your way. There are also web boards that you can post to just enter the search word carpool. And if you take turns driving every other week you will have less wear and tear on your vehicle.

When you fill up at a station that carries E-85 you can add 3-4 gallons of E-85 per fill up with out harming your non flex fuel vehicle.

2-     Go shopping with your neighbor(s) make a list and try to make it a once a week event. If you need to go to the store a second time or so check with your neighbor(s) and see if they need something too. And again, if you only did this with one other person would save you 50%   Bonus- you have someone that could help watch each others children.

Call First!!!!!
Over 2.5 million!! gallons of gas are used in this country every month by people going to stores that do not have what they are looking for. 
Now picking up the phone and checking first is as easy as it gets to save energy.

3-     Paper or Plastic? Plastic uses several times more oil and energy to produce and recycle. Most paper is usually made of remnants of other lumber products and recycles. Paper uses far less energy to produce and recycle.

4-     Only mow your lawn once every 2-weeks instead of every week. Grass grows really fast in the first week after it is mowed and slows down to very little growth in the second week as it prepares to go to seed. Another 50% savings in gas.  Bonus- one free week to try out that hammock with the built in beer holder.

5-     Do not fertilize or water your lawn. This will only make your lawn grow twice as fast and watering doesn’t help your lawn in a drought. Watering and fertilizing actually causes to roots to grow closer to the top of the ground and make it more susceptible to burn and die in the event of a drought. You are better off having the roots grow deeper in the ground to find its water and nutrients on its own. It may turn brown in a drought, but it will come back nice and full and green the next time it rains. Bonus- no stinky chemicals, high water bills and more time to try out that hammock with the built in beer holder.

6-     Install a whole house attic fan and make sure your roof is properly vented. Use fans as much as possible. Try to make a policy of only using your air conditioner on extra humid days. This could save you 40% on your air conditioning costs. Plus you will probably be out in that hammock with the built in beer holder anyway.

7-     Spend time outside, Go take a bike ride or spend time at the parks or in the forest preserves and such. If you are active and spend more time outside you will not only be healthier, your body will be less apt to desire air conditioning and you will be less prone to viruses. Plus you wont wear out that that hammock with the built in beer holder as fast. Bonus-You can save more money by loosing that indoor fitness center membership.

8-     Try to support alternative sources of energy as much as possible, like gas stations that carry E-85 (Most newer vehicles run on E-85 check your owners manual or with the gas stations the sell E-85) and Bio-Diesel. These products are produced here in the mid west. The more these products are used the more it will drive down oil prices and consumption. 
http://www.e85fuel.com/ 
       
http://www.wnbiodiesel.com/     

Please feel free to print off and/or distribute this information as much as you wish.

On behalf of the folks at American Eskimo Rescue and Sanctuary of Iowa we wish you a fun, enjoyable and less oil dependant summer.

Any questions or comments can be sent to: IowaHeartBandits@worldnet.att.net

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