Declare your Independence from High Gas Prices

I love this stuff. This article from TheDailyGreen.com suggests ways to cut and maximize your use of gas so that your average cost per gallon drops to $1! Below is a summary of the ways to save, but read the entire article here.

How to Pay Less Than $1 For Gas
The average price of gasoline in the United States has topped $4 a gallon, and won't peak until it hits $4.15 in August, according to the latest government prediction. (The last prediction: Gas would peak at $3.73 in June, so take it with a grain of salt.)

We've seen 11 straight weeks of record price increase. Oil is threatening to rise to $150 a barrel, according to Goldman Sachs. That's 50% higher than the milestone of $100 a barrel that some analysts thought impossible just a few months ago.
Some areas of the country, like California, are already seeing gas prices rise toward $4.50 a gallon.

That has some speculating we're in the midst of a bubble bred by greedy speculators. Everyone else is just trying to save a few pennies on gas.

Here are five road-tested ways to save money on gas. Of course the more gas we save, the less pollution we create, and the less beholden we are to those who control the oil supply.

1) Take public transportation. Sure, it costs money to take the bus or subway. But consider this: The average U.S. commute is 16 miles, and at these prices the average U.S. passenger car will go just 11 miles on $2, a typical public transit fare.

2) Car pool. Share your trip to work with one other person and split the bill. That's like paying $2 for gas, instead of $4. Put a third person in the car, and the price per gallon drops to $1.33. With a full car of four people, the cost is just $1 a gallon.

3) Pay nothing: walk or bike. Every mile you pedal or stride saves you gas, saves you money and puts you in better shape.

4) Trade in for a fuel efficient vehicle. If you must drive, replace your gas guzzler with a fuel-efficient model.

5) Drive smarter. Start by checking your tire pressure and inflating your tires to the appropriate level. Visit your mechanic for a tune-up if you're due. Be sure to have your tires aligned, your air filter checked and your oil changed if needed.

Did you participate in Earth Hour?

Did you turn off your lights for Earth Hour? For one hour on Saturday, the World Wildlife Fund asked people around the world to reduce their electricity use. At home my husband and I unplugged and turned off everything we could, including my scanner in my home office, which I didn't even know was on. It really made me aware of how much incidental electricity I use every day. It was really easy to participate, too.

Cities around the world, including Chicago, participted and turned off the lights on major landmarks and tall buildings.

And it appears that it made a difference. I read on thedailygreen.com that local utility Comm Ed reported that Chicago saved an estimated 420 tons of carbon dioxide by turning off the lights.

Next year, I'm hoping to get the credit union involved in Earth Hour in some way. We are closed on Saturday evenings, so we are already powered down for the most part at that time. However, perhaps we can celebrate Earth Hour a little earlier on Saturday - before closing time? Of course, we have to consider security so we'll have to plan carefully, but there must be something we can do even if it's a small step. Let us know if you have any suggestions!

Meanwhile, it's great to see the conversation that the WWF started. Here's looking foward to next year.

Save Gas, Cut Carbon Emissions, Burn Calories

Here's a way you can do all three - it's simple too. This tip is from The Daily Green. Check it out.

"When you are picking up food, doing your banking or even filling a prescription,
park your vehicle and walk inside instead of using the drive-through. It will
cut down on unnecessary fuel use as well as carbon emissions.

Every time you use a drive-through, you burn about 18 cents worth of gas idling your car. According to Quick Service Restaurant Magazine, the average drive-through wait time once the order is taken is three minutes. Add the minute or two that it takes to place the order, and that means one billion car-minutes spent idling
each year in front of Burger King restaurants alone! Estimates for total fuel
costs for idling in front of every drive-through in America are in the hundreds
of millions of dollars.

Parking your car and getting out also allows an opportunity to stretch your legs. Given the obesity epidemic in this country, any chance to get your body moving is also nothing to scoff at. Getting out also gives you the chance to throw away garbage, so you will be less tempted to toss litter out your window later on."