Hypermiling

So I foung this article on Hypermiling. At first I had no idea what it was but as I read further it slowly dawned on me... This was a way to save more money!

The article discusses different ways to enhance the milage of your auto. Everything from slowing down to gear shifting. It's a good read even if you aren't planning on hypermiling. I found a few tips that I've started to practice which have raised my mileage from 21mp to 23mpg. Not much but it saved me an extra trip to the pump! I've noticed that the extra few mpg I'm gaining is allowing me to go 2 weeks between fillups instead of 1 1/2 weeks. Pretty nice if you ask me.

One of the tips is just plain smart. when you're in bumper to bumper traffic don't step on the gas everytime the car in front of you creeps forward. Leave it in neutral until there is a sizable gap then idle forward. They've been doing construction on the main road near my house and this one tip has saved me a few gallons (and a few gray hairs!)

Another tip on just slowing down saved me in the parking garage the other day. I was driving out on the down ramp and an SUV pulled out in front of me. Since I was going slower than usual I managed to swerve, avoid, stop, and honk before the other driver hit me. Scared the crap out of me but had I been travelling faster I would not have been able to avoid them.

All in all even if you don't hpermile for the mileage do it for safety!

Stay green,
Yasha
101+ Tips for Hypermiling

Not ready for the Cloth Diaper?

Want to recycle more but can't stand the thought of washing poopy diapers? Your knight in shining armor has arrived!


Knowaste


A British phenomenon that is quickly catching on in other places. This company specialises in processing and recycling old "regular" diapers. They use the recycled material to make plastic wood, plastic tiles, roofing material, absorbent material, and other things!

They also recycle adult incontinence products and feminine hygiene products. How sweet is that?

Stay green,
Yasha

I just caught myself being lazy!

So as I was catching up on a new green trend, Hypermiling, I noticed my desk lamp was on. It's the middle of a bright day and I have the windows open. Why is my desk lamp on? So I reached over and switched it off. No problem.

Then I noticed the kitchen light is on AND the living room fan is on! What is going on here? So while I was getting up to turn all those things off I went ahead and switched off the power strip leading to the TV. I'm not using it so why have it on?

Look around, are you being lazy too? No one will notice if you get up and go turn some things off but your power bill will be a little lighter this month.

Stay green,
Yasha

Green Quiz Quest

Like scavenger hunts? Well here is one tailored to those going green.

It's a great way to get free green swag to start or continue a cloth diaper stash!

It starts anuually in July, check it out!

Green Quiz Quest

Stay green,
Yasha

The ABCP's of Recycling

Say what? The ABCP's of recycling are important for everyone to know. Knowing and understanding what they are will help you improve the productivity of your local recycling center.

Want to know what they are?

Aluminum. Find out if your community has an aluminum recycling center and if it does or does not pay.
Bags. As in plastic bags. those little things you take your groceries home in. Or the nice big plastic bags you find at most clothing retailers. Just because it didn't carry your milk doesn't mean it can't be recycled too. Anything you take home from the mall can usually be recycled. Find a local drop that collects them.
Cardboard. Does your recycling center take cardboard?
Paper. Does your center take paper? If so what kind? Do they only take office paper or will they take newspaper?
Plastic. What number do they take? Our local recycling center only takes #1 and #2 to be recycled but I have known others to take #1, #2, #5, and #7.

Many places will also take Glass, Steel, and Batteries as well as those items listed above.

Find out what your local community can recycle and try to separate items before you haul it away. It can save you a lot of time when you arrive if everything is already separated.

Stay green,
Yasha

My New Bag

I was shopping the clearance section of my favorite store the other day and I came across a cute little bag. Since I need something to tote around extra toys for my little girl I decided to get one. I picked out my favorite flavor and headed on to the checkout.

The bag, which I have gotten many positive comments on, is made from empty Capri Suns. The company calls it upcycling and encourages students to start a campaign at their schools to collect Capri Suns and send them to be upcycled. Schools are compensated for collecting the pouches so there really is no downside to this.

If you want to start a campaign or for more information check out Terra Cycle.

Stay green,
Yasha

How I save money (or the environment) with laundry!

I've posted before that I live in an apartment. This usually means I would have 2 choices on laundry. Wash and dry in a laundromat/dry cleaners or Wash and dry at home.

If I lived in a house I could go into my backyard and use a clothesline. No backyard = no clothesline, right? Wrong! I just set one up in the living room or baby's room on days when I don't plan on having company; usually it's the day I scrub the house from top to bottom. I have my own little makeshift clothesline made of hard materials. I use a bamboo pole and 2 metal DVD racks but I will be switching to a bamboo rack once I get rid of the DVD racks. I'll post a picture of the new racks when they're built.

Line drying can be used for any type of clothing and I greatly encourage it!!! With whites it will help bleach out any stains and save cash on your electric bill. Double bonus!

Ok so who wants an eyesore clothesline in the backyard 24/7? I wouldn't. However, your clotheslines don't have to be an eyesore. Consider alternative clotheslines such as wooden drying racks which can be placed on a patio, porch, or in the home; many of these fold up for easy storage as well.

If you like to garden try turning your "eyesore" into a trellis. Two wooden posts placed about a foot and a half apart with wooden crossbeams make a wonderful base for any climbing plant. You can plant sweet peas, roses, gardenias, you name it. Just have 2 sets of these trellises spaced far enough apart to string up your laundry.

The last option is to have a clothesline that can be taken down when not in use. Similar to the makeshift type I use in my apartment, you would only need to place it outside and take it down when not in use. I hope this gives you some ideas.

May you have many sunny days of drying!

Stay green,
Yasha

For more tips on clotheslines check out these sites:
livingonadime.com: Air Drying Clothes Without A Clothesline