Even though fuel prices have dropped a bit, I still save as much as I can. I live in a hilly area. Whenever I can, I put my car in neutral and coast. I seem to be saving a few gallons every month, it adds up!
Here in CT, heating season is right around the corner! In my home, I have a programmable thermostat to save on heat during the times I don't need it. I also have a wood stove which I use every day during heating season. I throw on a log when I get home from work, and keep a fire burning until I go to bed. It really keeps the furnace from coming on very often. I get most of my wood for free.
I keep any rooms I don't use closed off so they don't take any of the heat. In A/C season, I do the same. This way, my home is comfortable, but I am saving fuel as well!
By Kathy
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Hey, when you shift into neutral and coast, do the rpms drop when you do this? On my other car, they would drop immediatly.
I can't figure out why mine stays the same...if it stays the same you are still burning fuel.
Savin' energy has been a pastime of mine for years. I moved to Florida in 1973, energy was cheap and everyone was using plenty of it. After about a year, I realized someday this would catch up with all of us, and so it now has. I started back then conserving and I am still doing it today!
In the summer, turn up the thermostat, use ceiling fans or floor fans to keep cool. Drink lots of filtered or distilled cold water.
In the winter, turn down the thermostat, use portable electric room heaters and sweaters.
Turn off lights and fans when not in use.
Sweat a little, try to run your air conditioner in the evening and at night, they will run less time and you will conserve energy..
When leaving the house for a few hours, turn up the thermostat in the summer, down in the winter.
Change air conditioner filters monthly or as needed.
Caulk doors and windows.
Install blinds on windows and close them when the sun hits in the summer, leave open when the sun hits in the winter... Close them at night in the winter for savings...
Take showers, not baths to conserve on energy and water.
Wash clothes in cold water if possible.
When replacing appliances, get the most efficient you can afford.
When replacing the washing machine, buy an energy saver front loader and also save water.
Turn you water heater temperature to 120 degrees, you don't need 160 degree water.
Condense all of your shopping into one trip, save on gas!
Keep lead foot off of the gas pedal! Slow taking off save gas. When you see a red light several hundred feet ahead, take your foot off of the gas and coast.
Keep tires inflated to the proper level. Under inflated tires use more gas and can be dangerous.
I conserve because I want to leave as small of a carbon footprint while I am here on earth. The earthly benefit to all of this, less energy used, more money in my pocket! We only borrow a small patch of earth while we are here, the earth belongs to future generations.
Best to all, Jim
Many years ago, putting your car in neutral while going down a hill, was supposed to be bad for the transmission. I don't know if this is true but that's what I was told.
Why this was bad for your transmission is if you put it back in gear going 40 or 50 mph.. I would only do it to coast to a stop. But I don't think it saves anything for me because for some reason, my rpms don't drop when I put it in neutral. WEIRD!
As far as 'coasting' down a hill to save on gas, I've never heard of putting the car in neutral first, nor have I ever done it. What I do is simply take my foot off the gas and let the car coast on its own. Works like a charm!
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