LEARN ABOUT SAVING GAS!

As we can see from the clothes being worn by the people in this poster, saving gas is not new but has been promoted for some time.





Buy at AllPosters.com

Framed   Mounted

Gas prices have now come down to a more reasonable price at the pump. The unfortunate news is that we will see them go back up again some time fairly soon.

But since we can't do much about the fluctuation in gas prices other than the tips you can learn within this lens; we are starting to look to the future and see what we can do about our total energy costs--not only the costs to our pocket book but also the costs to our environment.

While doing my "surfing and searching" on the Internet each morning, I came across this product which I checked out and think it is worrthy of passing on to our readers. This is from the DIY workshop of Michael Harvey, Renewable energy enthusiasts and creator of Earth4Energy.com.--July 3, 2008

"Michael's complete step-by-step fully illustrated manual + easy to follow videos will have you generating your own electricity for less than $200!"

Neither my husband and I are very good at DIY projects but we have so many friends and a brother who are really into DIY (Do It Yourself) that we know that we can get them to help us and then be able to do this for themselves. Win, Win -- all the way around.
Plus, there is a Sales Price going on for a limited time. Great project for start of Spring.

1: Join the Earth4Energy club.
2: Download the DIY kit, watch the videos and read the manual.
3: Start building your solar panel and windmill.
All you need to do then is wait for your next electric bill and enjoy the savings.
Earth 4 Energy!

This is an amazing package of information that is available to you now and will provide answers for the many gas and fuel questions and more. The information you need to know to start fighting back at the big oil company's outrageous profit machines, can be available to you right now in this incredible package of tips, tricks and facts about saving money at the gas pump in ways so simple you will be smiling as you learn more and...
SAVE MONEY!
Check it out here.

In an effort to check out using bio-fuel as a fuel
alternative, Cody McCloy of CNN.com has embarked on a two week trip driving a 30 year old vehicle that has been equipped to operate on bio-fuel. (Photo of Cody McCloy is from CNN.com

See the story and check out Cody's blog. Very interesting stuff.
CNN.com/RoadTrip

Be sure to come back to Learn About Saving Gas for tips and alternatives!

Monday May 19, 2008
Debunking Gas-Saving Myths
Technoride.Com
Posted By: Steven Volynets

We've all heard it ad nauseam - simple ways to boost MPGs without buying a hybrid or ditching your car for the train. Pump more air in the tires, turn off the A/C, change your filter, many 'experts' say, and that dreary gas station will become a less frequent site. But does all this advice really help, or are we fooling ourselves into buying even more petrol?

CNN Money set out to separate fact from fiction by exposing 6 gas-savings myths. The report cautions that some of this so-called expert guidance simply "makes no difference," while some can even "wind up costing you." The article also points out that there are really no substitutes for fuel-efficient vehicles and sound driving habits.
Here's a look at some of the most common gas-saving misconceptions.

#1. Fill your tank in the morning. You may have heard that it's best to fill your gas tank in the early morning while the fuel is cold. The theory goes that fluids are more dense at lower temperatures, so a gallon of cold gas actually has more gas molecules than a gallon of warmer gas. But the temperature of the gasoline as it comes out of the nozzle varies little during the course of the day, according to Consumer Reports, so there's little, if any, benefit, to getting up early to pump gas.

#2. Change your air filter. Maintaining your car is important, but a clean air filter isn't going to save you any gas. Modern engines have computer sensors that automatically adjust the fuel-air mixture as an increasingly clogged air filter chokes off the engine's air supply. While engine power will decrease slightly as the air filter becomes clogged, a lack of performance or an increase in fuel consumption will be negligible, Consumer Reports says.

#3. Use premium fuel. With prices already over $4.00 a gallon, premium gasoline is a hard sell these days. But a lot of drivers think because their owners' manual recommends premium, they'll get better fuel economy with it. Really, they may be paying more money for nothing. Newer cars for which premium is "recommended" - but not "required" - won't suffer with regular fuel. Modern engine technology comes to the rescue again. When sensors detect regular instead of premium fuel, the system automatically adjusts spark plug timing. The result is a slight reduction in peak horsepower - really, you'll never notice - but little or no reduction in fuel economy.

#4. Pump up your tires. Proper tire inflation is important for a number of reasons. Under-inflated tires are bad for handling and can even cause a crash. Improper tire inflation also causes tires to wear out faster and to heat up more, which could trigger a dangerous high-speed blow-out. According to on-the-road driving tests by both Consumer Reports and auto information site Edmunds.com, underinflated tires reduce fuel economy, so proper inflation is key. But you should never over-inflate your tires. They'll get you slightly better fuel economy because there will be less tread touching the road, reducing friction. But that means less grip for braking and turning. The added risk of a crash isn't worth the extra mile a gallon you might gain.

#5. To A/C or not A/C. There's no question air-conditioning makes extra work for the engine, increasing fuel use. But car air conditioners are much more efficient today than they used to be. In around-town driving, using the A/C will drop fuel economy by about a mile a gallon. Meanwhile, driving at higher speeds with the windows down greatly increases aerodynamic drag. As speed increases, drag becomes more of an issue, making A/C use the more efficient choice at high speeds.

#6. Bolt-ons and pour-ins. Before you buy a device that's supposed to make your car more fuel-efficient or pour in an allegedly gas-saving additive, ask yourself this: Don't you think oil and car companies aren't doing everything they can to beat their competitors? If BP (BP) could add something to its gasoline that made cars go farther on a gallon, cars would be lining up at the company's pumps. Sure, people would burn their fuel-saving BP gas more slowly, but then they'd drive right past rivals' gas stations to come back to BP for more. BP stations could even charge more for their gas and still sell tons of the stuff. So if there really was an additive that made gas burn up more slowly, it wouldn't be sold over the Internet one bottle at a time.

HYPERMILING TIPS FROM ECO-TREKKER

Eco-Trekker

The Ultimate Guide to Hypermiling: 100 Driving and Car Tips and Resources

Hypermiling, or driving your car "in a manner that maximizes mileage," has become more popular among drivers worldwide, as concerns over increasing gas prices and environmental issues heighten. Whether you're trying to make a difference by helping the environment, or you're just aiming to save a few more dollars at the pump each month, check out this ultimate guide to hypermiling, which provides tips and resources for smart driving.

Below is a list of hypermiling tips that drivers can implement while behind the wheel. We recommend practicing one or two tips at a time and gradually working your way up to the whole list so that you aren't overwhelmed.

With that in mind, we shall start our learning about hypermiling with just the first set of tips:

Driving Tips

Below is a list of hypermiling tips that drivers can implement while behind the wheel. We recommend practicing one or two tips at a time and gradually working your way up to the whole list so that you aren't overwhelmed.

1. Drive a stick shift: If you're used to driving automatic, switching over to a stick shift might take a little practice, but it's definitely worth it. Once you have more control over the vehicle, you'll be able to master more hypermiling tricks.
2. Stop speeding: The harder you press the gas pedal, the more gas you're using.
3. Coast instead of braking: When you see a stop sign up ahead or a traffic light turning yellow, immediately take your foot off the gas and let your vehicle slow down by itself.
4. Cruise Control: One automatic setting that actually helps hypermiling is cruise control, which prevents "you from "creeping" up in speed without realizing it," according to Epistolary.org.
5. Put your car in neutral: Coasting with your car in neutral takes the burden off your gas pedal preventing you from wasting fuel. If you're not driving in heavy traffic, experiment with this effective money saver.
6. Lighten the load: The heavier your car is, the harder it has to work to propel itself forward. Empty out your trunk and backseat of ice chests, beach chairs, and other items that you're not using to lighten the load.
7. "Shift slow and low": The site Epistolary.org urges drivers to "shift slow and low," whenever possible to give your vehicle more mileage.
8. Find a route that's easy on your vehicle: A story in the Washington Post discusses the benefits of "optimiz[ing] your route" when implementing hypermiling tricks. Instead of taking the scenic route to work, which could include more hills, twists, and dips, try finding a route that features level roads and less traffic lights or stop signs. "
9. Park in the sun: The blogger Joe Future believes that parking your vehicle in the sun is a hypermiling tip for two reasons: "On a cold day, parking in the sun keeps your car warmer." Also, a warmer car "will get to "auto-stop" mode faster than a cold car, so you'll sit idling at fewer red lights while you're waiting for auto-stop to kick in."
10. Roll down the windows if you're not on the highway: After the scorching hot temperatures of the summer have retreated, stop blasting the air conditioner and roll down your windows. According to Drive.com.au, "It is generally accepted that air-conditioning increases fuel consumption by about 10 percent but winding down the windows increases drag, which is also an enemy of good fuel consumption." If you're going to be on the highway, keeping your A/C on low is still a good idea, but if you're taking a joy ride, think about getting a little fresh air.
11. Turn off the car before putting it in park: Joe Future suggests turning off your vehicle before putting it in park to save gas. If you don't, "the gas engine will come on before you shut off the car."
12. Don't leave the car running: It may seem like a good idea to let your car idle while you dash into the store to grab the milk or drop off a rented movie, but doing so wastes gas. Take the extra few seconds to pull into a real parking spot and turn the car off first.

Article kindly provided by Über Articles

How to Save Gas and Save Money With a Few Simple Checks

by Scott Siegel

Most people don't realize that even small problems with the way their car is running could be costing them fuel economy. If your car is not running at peak performance then you are losing gas and money every time you drive it.

Many problems with your car can be corrected or identified with some simple things you can do on a regular basis. Not only will you be saving gas by keeping your car running at its optimum, you may also be heading off costly repair bills.

More important than either of these is that you will be keeping your car as safe as it can be. You may prevent a critical failure that could result in an accident.

Most maintenance should be left to the professionals. However, once a month you should perform the following checks to help identify and head off problems that can cost you fuel and money down the road:

1. Check tire pressure and look for signs of uneven wear or embedded objects that can cause air leaks. In winter, check tire pressure whenever there is a sharp change in temperature.

2. Check around the car and under the engine for fluid leaks. You can often identify the type of fluid that is leaking by its color. Oil is black, coolant is a bright greenish yellow, automatic transmission fluid is pink, and power steering and brake fluids are clear, with a slight brown tinge. All of these fluids are oily to the touch.

3. Check the level of your fluids. This would entail the engine oil, the engine coolant, the transmission fluid and the power steering fluid. Make sure you top off any that are low. Check with the owner's manual to make sure you are doing this properly.

4. Check for a few other things while you have the hood open. If you see cracked or leaking radiator hoses or if you notice cracked or split spark plug wires you should get them fixed immediately. Check the hose clamps to make sure they are tight. Lastly check the battery for signs of corrosion. Make sure to check where the cables attach to the battery.

5. Check for problems with the brakes. On a straight, flat and traffic-free stretch of road, rest your hands lightly on the steering wheel and apply the brakes gradually. If the vehicle swerves to one side, one of the brake linings may be
worn more than the other, or the brakes may need
adjustment.

6. Use a similar test to check for problems with wheel alignment. On a straight, flat and traffic-free stretch of road, rest your hands lightly on the steering wheel and drive at an even speed. If the vehicle pulls to one side, the wheels may be misaligned.

These are just a few basic checks you can perform on your car monthly. By doing this you will keep your car running at its peak performance. If your car is running at its best, it will save you gas, money and will keep you safe!

Scott Siegel is the author of a 143 page manual of industry insider secrets on saving gas and money at the pump (beatthegaspump.com). Visit us to learn how you can get better gas
mileage. Find out how to increase gas
mileage.

Articles in two of our local papers, the North County Times and the San Diego Union Tribune had statistics on the "gas price effect" in our area. I have to believe that this same effect is at play in many of our urban areas.

The SD Union Tribune reported major findings of a Field Poll of Californians released last week.
78: percentage who say they are driving less
59: percentage driving a more fuel-efficient vehicle
28: percentage who say they are carpooling more
17: percentage taking public transportation more

The North County Times in the "On The Road" column cited a new federal traffic report that says the amount of time our roads are congested on a typical weekday has declined, on average, by more than an hour in San Diego County and more than two hours in Riverside County.

Comparing traffic congestion in February through April with the same three months in 2007, the Federal Highway Administration found that San Diego-area freeways were bottled up for and 1 hour and 39 minutes, down from 2 hours and 44 minutes. In Riverside County, the congested period declined from almost 5 hours a day to 2 hours and 38 minutes.

According to an Associated Press national article shoppers are also adapting to the economic downturn. "Every economic downturn changes shoppers in some way. But this time, experts say the new behavior - fueled by higher gas and food prices, tightening credit and a slumping housing market - are the most dramatic and wide-spread that they have seen since the mid-1970.

The widening gap between discounters and mall-based apparel sellers was evident in monthly retail sales figures released the week of July 14th. The International Council of Shopping Centers-USB tally of 38 stores found that same-store sales at discounters rose 5.1 % in June and 9 % at wholesale clubs. Discount giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc. posted a robust 5.8 %, its best June performance since 2002.

These numbers demonstrate the ingenuity of the American people when they are faced with a problem/crisis; they work to find a solution. That is part of the two-way street.

To see the other part of the two-way street; we have to look elsewhere. For the noted transportation changes, a closer look will reveal that the people making those changes are the ones who can afford to change the vehicle they are driving, who can access the public transportation in their area and the people in larger urban areas. Many rural communities do not even have public transportation. For the noted shopping changes, a closer look will reveal that the people making those changes are the ones who can afford a computer and the Internet connection, who can choose to shop at discounter stores such as Cost-Co or Wal-Mart; as not every community has those stores.

The other numbers that these statistics don't address is the gas price effect on many small-business owners with local stores. These are the same local store owners who have already been struggling to compete with the big brand stores and the discounters. How are they going to compete with the lowering of prices by the big guys who can make up the discount with volume?