Blog Archives

Managing waste in your home

4/24/2026

Almost everyone can find ways to reduce the waste they generate at home and combine that with finding better ways to manage the waste they do generate. Proper waste disposal protects the planet in many ways, reducing pollution and allowing reuse of the raw materials. The article discusses several aspects of managing waste in the home, including reducing the generation of waste, reusing items, recycling, and disposing of hazardous waste.

https://www.wikihow.com/Manage-Your-Home-Waste

0 Comments

Conserving water

4/13/2026

0 Comments

Many areas are experiencing serious drought conditions that are likely to get worse before they get better. Water restrictions are becoming increasingly common. And conserving water is a good idea even if you live in a wet climate. Municipal water systems require a lot of energy. This is a good article on how to save water at home, although not all of the ideas will work for everyone. A few extra thoughts:

Check local regulations before installing rainwater catch systems. They are not legal in some locations and others have restrictions on how much you are allowed to capture.
The suggestion to reduce the volume of water in your toilet tank is a good one, but if you already have a low-water toilet, further reduction of the water tank volume may interfere with the toilet’s effectiveness. You’ll have to experiment.
The article only lightly touches on one huge use of water in single-family homes, which is lawn and garden watering. I will write another post that expands on that topic. In the meantime, look at your yard to see where you could use native plants that require less water, and use trickle irrigation when possible. Don’t water during the heat of the day and adjust your sprinklers so that you are not watering the sidewalk and street. Experiment to see how much water your lawn really needs so you are not overwatering.

https://www.wikihow.com/Save-Water

0 Comments

How to maximize automobile fuel efficiency

4/3/2026

0 Comments

With fuel prices rising quickly, it’s a good time to review ways to maximize fuel economy when you drive. Saving fuel will help both the planet and your wallet.

Consolidate trips and plan your route to minimize the number of miles you drive.
If you are not sure if the store will have the item you want, call ahead to check.
Proper maintenance of your car will help it operate efficiently. Keep tires inflated to the proper pressure, change your air filters, and get your car serviced according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Learn driving techniques that are eco-friendly. Don’t accelerate and decelerate rapidly.
Don’t speed. Fuel efficiency goes down when car speeds go up. HOWEVER, DO NOT drive significantly below the speed limit or the general speed of the traffic around you. It is dangerous for you and the other drivers on the road. A slow vehicle on the highway can cause jams that are miles long and cause accidents.
Every time you put on the brakes, it takes energy to return to your previous speed. In heavy traffic, try to adjust your following distance and techniques to reduce the amount of braking needed to stay in the flow of traffic.
Unless it is extremely cold or your car is an older model, you don’t need to warm up your vehicle’s engine before you drive. Scrape frost off car windows instead of waiting while your car heats up enough to defrost the windows.
Parking in the shade when it’s hot outside reduces fuel evaporation.
When it’s time to buy a new vehicle, consider carefully your specific driving needs in addition to fuel economy to choose the best vehicle.

https://www.ucs.org/resources/how-maximize-your-vehicles-fuel-economy

0 Comments