Parkside Homes Blog

Over the past twelve months we have seen the cost of oil skyrocket. Although many Americans are doing their best to adjust to continual hikes at the pump, a pervading sense of fear has worked its way into the mindset of many households. In order to combat this problem focused mindset, we must become solution oriented. As we wait for long term resolutions to evolve, I have highlighted some short term keys to stretching your gas dollar.

1. Easy starts
Don't floor it. Gently accelerate to cruising speed and take it easy when you get there.
Practicality:  Great idea, experts say. Jackrabbit starts waste gas. Gentle driving techniques are safer, too. "If you drive carefully, you can almost always meet or beat the EPA (gas mileage) estimates," says Ron Cogan, publisher of Green Car Journal.

2. Drive the speed limit — or less
Cars get better gas mileage going slower on freeways because there is less wind resistance. "The higher the speed above 60 (mph), the more fuel you're losing," Cogan says.
Practicality: Consumer Reports tested a Toyota Camry and got 5 mpg more at 55 mph vs. at 65. California Highway Patrol Officer Heather Hoglund says slowing down is great, but stay in the right lane with other slower traffic.

3. Drive off-center in lanes
Called "ridge riding," you lessen resistance by driving off center in a lane, out of the worn tracks left in the pavement by traffic.
Practicality:  OK, but only if there is room to stay well within your lane and not impede — or crowd — other traffic.

4. Time stop lights
Pace your driving to hit as many green lights as possible.
Practicality:  Great idea, say experts. And more cities are trying to help by timing lights on arteries to get more cars through on green, to save fuel and promote obeying the speed limit.

5. Hang back from cars ahead
More space in front of your car gives you more room in which to work speed changes that can squeeze out more mpgs. Practicality: Safe. Also adds margin for emergency stops.

6. Combine errands
Cars burn more gas when warming up. Hypermiler Louis Hudgin of Gilbert, Ariz., consolidates his errands to hit several businesses by foot from one parking spot rather than driving to each. He tries to park so he never has to back out of a space.
Practicality:  Fine, if you don't mind a little exercise.

7. Don't use air conditioning
Engines work harder if they have to run the AC. But you don't want to roll down the windows, which increases wind drag.
Practicality:  You may wish you'd used some gas to keep from arriving at your destination a sweaty, wilted mess.

* These suggestions were detailed in a recent addition of the USA Today. Please see http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2008-06-23-hypermiling-gas-saving-tips_N.htm for further details.

As I was trying to think of new ways that my family could do a better job of conserving energy and  reducing our impact on the environment, I thought about going back to using an old fashioned clothesline. While in my euphoric state of discovery I made the mistake of mentioning it to my wife who 1) had to hang clothes out to dry her whole growing up years and 2) has an extremely sensitive nose and does not care for the smell of “outside” (I have yet to fully understand this smell).  So to try and get my ducks in a row and try and take another stab at convincing her, I did a little research and here is what I found.

While an electric clothes dryer is not the main culprit in your energy usage it does account for around 6-10% of your energy bill.  If you have a family of four and you do roughly 7 loads of wash each week that adds up somewhere between $154.00 and $178.00 per year.  When you compare that to a clothesline that cost around $29.00 and $78.00 it starts to sound like the making of a good deal. For you that have the immediate thought of the ugly line permanently strung across the yard you will be glad to know that here are many different and interesting styles to choose from.  I must say it was not as much of a true dollar savings as I initially thought but looking at the budget saving money of any mount is a welcome alternative.  However, I do not think we can afford, today, tolook only at the hard dollar cost without adding to it, the cost to the environment.

If you were to air dry clothes 6 months out of the year you would save 700 pounds of carbon from being emitted into the atmosphere.  This does not even factor in the effect of laundry softeners and anything else you may throw in your dryer. For a more in depth conversation on this and other green laundry tips ,the Greenguide has an interesting article.  Now if you step back and consider that that if 25% of the U.S. used air drying for six months we would be able to keep 44 million TONS of carbon from being emitted and oh yeah buy the way it will pay you back within 6 months, I think the clothesline has a place in our homes and lives.  For you all that live in subdivisions with a HOA, check to make sure that they allow clotheslines.  If they do not allow them, push  them to allow them in the back yard, even if it is only certain days of the week. There are many indoor clothesline options our there if you cannot convince them or if ,like my wife, you do not like the smell of the "outdoors". If you want to learn a little more about the advantages of hanging laundry check out the laundrylist. Well wish me luck on selling my wife on the idea and I urge you to give it a try, you have nothing to lose and while at it you can help our greatest asset.... the earth.