Insurance was an early participant in the Green Power Community Challenge. Each month we post our carbon offset results from our solar energy array on our headquarters in Creve Coeur.
We are proud to be doing our part to make Creve Coeur one of the leading communities nationwide in deriving our power from renewable resources.
This month, our carbon offset is 1.20 tons. We have offset the equivalent of 31 trees.
Thanks to our solar vendor, Microgrid Solar, for the photo.
June Energy Tip – Make Your Next Road Trip Fuel Efficient (From the http://energy.gov)
See what you can do to lower fuel costs and spend your money on exciting adventures instead:
- Don’t waste fuel when you aren’t even driving. Idling your car can use a half gallon of fuel per hour. That means you are wasting three cents for every minute you idle. If you are parked for more than 10 seconds, it is more fuel efficient to turn off your vehicle while waiting.
- Pack light when you head out this summer. For every 100 extra pounds of luggage in your vehicle, your fuel costs go up about 3 cents per gallon. And, if you have to attach a luggage rack to the top of your vehicle your fuel economy can decrease by up to 25% at Interstate speeds due to drag. Instead, try to pack light and keep your luggage inside the car or trunk.
- Be sure that your car is in tip-top shape by keeping up with maintenance. Problems with spark plugs, dragging brakes, sagging belts, or transmission can cause fuel economy problems. Fixing some serious maintenance problems can increase mileage by up to 40%.
- Think about your vehicle. One of the smartest things you can do to improve fuel economy is choose a vehicle according to your need. If you are a city driver, a small hybrid or plug-in electric vehicle is probably right for you because they get better fuel mileage and are easier to maneuver and park in small city streets.
