02/02/12

Even if you can't afford a hybrid car, you can keep track of your tire pressure to increase fuel efficiency. Find out from your car's manual what the maximum pressure is for your tires -- it's usually around 35 pounds per square inch (PSI) for most. Then invest in a tire pressure gauge to make sure each tire has the correct PSI. If any is low, you're decreasing your fuel efficiency. If that's the case, pop some quarters into the air machine at the gas station and fill them up until they reach their maximum PSI.

02/01/12

Ever throw a party and taste the orange and grape soda or cola go from fizzy to flat? Don't just throw them away -- instead, make delicious frozen ice pops from them! Fill a reusable plastic mold with the flat soda, then insert the caps and wooden sticks. Chill according to the package instructions, and you've got delicious frozen treats everyone will love to eat. Yum!

01/31/12

While a fireplace is not the most efficient way to heat a home, it can be a nice way to keep Old Man Winter's chill at bay. One simple way to boost your fireplace efficiency is to add a fire grate inside the hearth, which holds logs and lifts them off the ground, forcing heat forward into your home. Another idea is to add a hearth reflector to wood-burning fireplaces; these are sheets of metal that are placed on the back wall to help radiate and reflect heat into the room. And finally, having your chimney cleaned regularly helps keep your fireplace in tiptop shape.