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Around the House: Power Down - You can use 75 percent less energy with a compact fluorescent light bulb. These money-savers last ten times longer than regular bulbs and produce a fourth of the emissions due to the energy savings. Although they cost more at the cash register, they save about $25 or more in electricity over the life of the bulb. They emit less heat as well, keeping the house cooler. Smart Use - Turn off appliances and lights when not in use. Upgrade appliances to super-energy efficient models to save on utility bills and reduce emissions. Smart Investments - Proper insulation means you stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter to save money and reduce expensive air conditioning and heating costs. Often investment costs for insulation can be recovered within one or two heating and cooling seasons in reduced utility bills. Also be sure to check with your utility for rebates or loans for energy related improvements. In the Car: For most Iowans - and most Americans - the greatest polluting activity done on a daily basis is automobile usage. In 1999, Iowans burned over a billion gallons of gasoline. Despite a smaller state population than in 1980, Iowans set driving records at the end of the Century, logging 29.7 billion miles. That's a 62% increase since 1980 and double the miles set in the mid-1960s. By 2020, state vehicle experts predict the yearly total to reach 41 billion miles. What does that do for future state air quality? Today, mobile sources such as trucks, autos and off-road equipment account for nearly 50 percent of toxic chemicals in Iowa's air. Nitrogen oxides found in the exhaust contributes to ozone smog. Tune and Maintain - Visible smoke from your vehicle tailpipe is a clue something is not running correctly. And since smoke is really unburned fuel, it means the car is not operating at peak performance. Have routine, inexpensive tune-ups and ensure your car is properly maintained to avoid more expensive repair bills later. Visible emissions from one poorly performing car can equal emissions from 10 to 25 properly running vehicles. So if 100 Iowans tuned-up their smoking vehicles, that equals removing the emissions of 1000 to 2500 cars! Follow regular maintenance for best performance, peak fuel efficiency and to prevent mechanical problems. Pay attention to:
Drive Smarter - How you drive makes a big difference on fuel usage, comfort, safety and emissions. Drive smarter with the following tips: Why race? - Don't accelerate to stop lights or stop signs, coast instead to gradually slow down. By anticipating when the light may change green, you may be able to save momentum and avoid stopping altogether to increase fuel efficiency and reduce brake wear. Fast, "jack-rabbit" starts are tough on engines and waste fuel. Accelerate smoothly and evenly to save fuel, engine and transmission wear, and reduce emissions. Relax. - Driving faster usually doesn't save that much time especially for local errands. Plus it usually leads to increased stress. Take it easy and drive at a relaxing, reasonable and steady speed. Saves fuel too. Cool smarter. - Don't automatically hit the AC when the vent can do the job for less money. Air conditioning hinders fuel economy. Park in the shade when possible. Open windows and use shades if you cannot find shade. If you must use the AC, set the thermostat at moderate, comfortable temperatures, not the coldest setting. Reduce Your VMT's - Share rides and use mass transit or walk or ride a bike to reduce your vehicle miles traveled (VMTs). Combine errands. Ride sharing or car pooling even just one day a week can reduce commuting costs. Have your children use their bike or walk instead of providing rides for nonessential activities. Reducing VMTs prolongs the life of your vehicle and reduces depreciation. It also cuts fuel bills and emissions. Trip Chaining - The first few miles of driving are by far the most polluting because on-board emission controls are not warmed-up and operating. Trip chaining means combining errands. In this way, the vehicle is used while pollution controls are warm and working instead of making numerous "cold start" trips. Trip chaining saves time, fuel and conveniently reduces air emissions. Scrap the Clunker - If you drive an older vehicle, chances are its emissions are much higher than a newer vehicle. Emission control equipment can wear out, fuel seals can leak to increase evaporative loss and oxygen sensors can fail. The car may not be as safe to drive either. Consider upgrading to a newer car and consider a super fuel-efficient model. Other Tips:
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