How do you conserve energy?

[M.C.Barrett]

I kinda started on this in another thread, but it was a bit off-topic there, and I think it would make a good discussion on its own...

With this looming, arguably present energy crisis, how do you conserve energy and fuel? Do you have a specific strategy of conservation you employ in your own life that you'd like to share with others? If you have ideas, share them, if you need ideas, ask for them. I'd like to see specific examples of what people are doing to save energy and fuel.

Myself, I've changed my driving habits drastically in the last few days, limiting my speed to 55 miles per hour (speed limit varies from 60 to 65 on my 70 mile commute), and my fuel economy has improved by a measured 27%. What I've done is taken white shoe polish to my rear window with the message "SAVE GAS, SLOW DOWN", and people respond to it. Of course, this is Texas, so quite a lot of the response is hostile and defensive from drivers of giant pickups, but there are just as often people who follow the lead. This is a prime opportunity, while it's biting everyone in the wallet, to increase awareness of fuel waste with public actions. It works, people read it, they slow down, and the more people are out there saying it, the better it will be heard.

[Mike Frank]

A friend of mine was just telling me a couple of days ago how he was driving 55 on his commute up to school and ended up getting 55 miles to the gallon.. thats pretty sweet. After paying $30 to fill my tank yesterday, I've been accelerating a lot slower. I deliver pizzas so I'm not sure how it would be best to earn/save money. For me I could compensate for spending all the gas by driving faster and taking more deliveries. But I'm going to try this low acceleration thing on this tank of gas just to see how good of a mileage I can get. If you drive a manual, you can shift sooner than you might normally and keep the RPMs low. I drove about 60 miles yesterday and still am sitting on the Full line. Also have been trying to avoid routes with a lot of stoplights and stop signs.

[I_LOVE_ART]

After my brother got a GPS routing system, he saved nearly 30 extra miles when he travels from home to his university. So I think a GPS can show you the shortest route!

[S.C. Watson]

I think a large part of it is being conscious of what you doing: in other words, we've gotten in the habit of using our cars for everything because it is so convienient. Walk if you can do so reasonably. Carpool, take the bus, get a bike, like mentioned above; drive slower. Think before you jump in the car.

The frustrating thing for me is that I live out in the freaking boondocks, and on an island to boot. I'm literally nowhere near *anything*, so I have to drive. On the plus side, I do 99% of my work from home so I'm not commuting everyday.

Recovery from this is going to be interesting...

[bizarre]

with the winter coming up, i know i won't be able to bike to work, and biking to school is out of the question, (woot 25 miles)

car pooling would be smart, indeed.

[0kelvin]

I try not to go outside. Ever.



0kelvin

[Slash]

Public transportation. What the fuck do i need a car for when everything, and i mean EVERYTHING i would ever need to go to is within 20 minutes of riding a bus?

[Helium Macaroni]

I'm lucky to live in one of the actual old neighborhoods of Los Angeles and therefore walk to the local coffee shop, drugstore, restaurants, supermarket, etc. Everything I need other than what I'd need to go to a big box retailer explicitly for is right near me. I work from home a lot of the time so that saves significantly on gas usage. I keep my driving speed around 65 (and if you know LA the normal driving speed is 80 mph). I try not to drive during peak traffic times on the freeway to avoid stop-and-go driving. I drive a 4 cylinder Nissan Sentra with a decent fuel economy and keep it maintained (with a bumper sticker that says "I’d rather be driving something hydrogen powered"). Plain and simple I drive the thing as little as possible and try not to go hard on the acceleration or braking to keep the fuel usage steady.

At home we use energy saver light bulbs, we keep our windows shut and blinds pulled in the summer to save cooling costs. I admit I'm an A/C hog, but I make sure to keep it off as much as possible. The winters aren't cold here so that makes heating costs rather insignificant. When it's cold, we use blankets and sweaters.

I'm hoping in the future if I am financially well off enough to build a house incorporating solar panels into roof construction. California is one of 2 states where if your house produces more electricity than it uses, you can sell it back to the utility company, and the state will cover half of the construction costs of a solar array.

[M.C.Barrett]

As the fall semester gets settled in, I plan to begin using my '93 Mercury Villager even more efficiently by carpooling. I would not have bought the minivan had I not needed something to haul large canvases to and fro. I chose the smallest, most economical vehicle I could afford while satisfying my functional requirements. It lacks air conditioning, so shifting the commuting time to the early morning and nighttime, because of the carpooling, would allow me to drive with the windows closed, increasing fuel efficiency even more. I'm getting 29.2 miles per gallon as of the latest reading, and I'm betting I can nudge that up to an even 30 for the next one. Before I started being really conscious of my fuel use, I got anywhere from 18 to 23 mpg. I cannot emphasize that enough, reducing speed really works (but not too much, below about 50 mph most cars are working less efficiently than between 50 and 60). I keep the tires properly inflated, and I even bought those carefully, choosing a relatively more lightweight tire than some other choices. Since I rarely carry more than three passengers, I keep the removable bench seat in the house to save weight. I toss my bicycle in the back for when I might want to do anything off campus while I'm there.

At home, things are a little different. I have only partial power over most energy use decisions, but I do what I can. I sneak the thermostat up a notch or two in the daytime, patrol the house for electric devices left on, close blinds/drapes when it's hot, and turn down the water heater for the middle of the day. When I can, I turn the thermostat up a bit more and point a little fan where I'm working or whatever I'm doing. fans use far less energy than air conditioners, and a properly hydrated body can cool itself quite efficiently with a bit of wind.

[stoph]

meh.. petrol used to be so freaking cheap. i still remember when you could walk up to a bowser and be greeted with $0.80 and the like. these days im paying $1.22.9L, which isnt much considering i only have to fill a 22L tank, but even so, its getting ridiculous. half of that could be wiped off if the australian government didnt put such a massive tax on it in the first place. i dont drive irresponsibly, but i tend to accelerate a little quick and that cant be doing my economy too good. im gonna make a big post-it and stick it to my steering wheel or sun visor "SLOW DOWN YOU INSENSITIVE GIT!!"

ahem..

EDIT: they say its gonna jump to $1.35 or more very soon.. grrr.

[stoph]

ironically, not long after writing the last post i went driving and ran right out of petrol (stupid dodgy fuel gauge guess its doing ok for a 35 year old unit). had to get a mate to come pick me up and drop me at a petrol station. oh yeah, and regular unleaded now costs me $1.30L.. grrr...

[anjin]

I am agree... we should save fuel, and energy not just for save money, but also thinking to ambient. So don't waste electric power, don't leave lights on if you don't need, don't wast conditioned air and o on.Try to use car less time you can, use more public transports, bycycle and most of everything, walk.
Naturally it's not possible to do it everytime, but it's better try to do something and also try to explain it to other people then just wait that earht will be destroyed from ourself.
Sorry for my english