How to Adjust Energy-use & Lifestyle To Stay On The Road

According to the New York Times, the average price of gasoline is selling for about $3.61 per gallon, just shy of a new record national average, and is expected to peak in June. What’s this mean for summer vacationers… stay close to home or pay the price? Not necessarily.

A Precision Tune-up on your air conditioner is great, it improves efficiency and could even help you breathe easier if your family has allergies. While I strongly recommend an A/C Tune-up as the first and foremost way to keep the bills down during hot summer months, there are some other ways you can keep your wallet cool. So how can you shrug off the cost of climbing gas prices?

Here are 5 ways to help save a little more this summer:

1. Tint Your Windows

The windows in your home are a major source of heat. To reduce their affect on the indoor temperature and the load to air conditioning operation, buy a window tinting kit from your local home improvement store. Window tinting film can usually be applied with a simple soap and water solution, so there’s no need to buy expensive solvents or pay a company to do this for you (although if you're not the handy type you might want to leave it up to the pros, it can be a messy job). Definitely check the directions for proper application, and start with the smallest, least visible window in your home (like a small bathroom) until you get the hang of it.

Make sure the tint level does not violate Home Owner Association or city codes, and ask the store if tax credits are available in your area for ENERGY STAR rated tinting materials. Cost for 15 windows in the average 3-bedroom home; about $270. Air conditioning savings; up to 18% per month

2. Insulate, Insulate, Insulate

Insulation can be an inexpensive, do-it-yourself weekend project that can keep the conditioned air in your home from escaping, and help save even more on air conditioning operation. There are a several types of insulation applications; batted, rolled, wrapped, and blown. There are even ENERGY STAR rated and eco-friendly options available in most areas. Insulation is relatively easy to apply, and the heating and cooling savings can be up to 20%.

Be safety-conscious when working in an attic; watch for over-heating and dehydration. A couple of great resources for detailed insulation information is InsulateYourAtticNow and The Pink Panther Energy Blog.

3. Have A Garage Sale (or two)

Here’s something you probably didn’t know, National Garage Sale Day is August 9th. Having a garage sale is one of the best forms of recycling, and the average garage sale can bring in about $300. That’s enough to help offset gas costs for that summer road-trip to WallyWorld. So get rid of all that stuff that’s just cluttering up your closet, and raise some cash at the same time. Here are some great tips to holding a successful garage sale (and if you’re in the spending mood, here’s how to shop em).

4. Try Alternative Transportation

Consider this, the average cost of monthly car insurance for a mid-size car is $200. The average cost to make a 10 mile commute 5 days a week on a city bus in Washington D.C. is about $120 per month. That’s a monthly savings of $80 over insurance alone. Add a couple hundred dollars for gas and a car payment (not to mention oil, tune-ups and other maintenance costs) and there’s just no contest.

Use this detailed calculator to estimate your true cost of driving. Then determine if you can take the bus once in a while, or downsize a vehicle altogether in favor of public transportation.

5. Consider A Move

It may sound drastic, but if you can, the time to move is right now. The current economic slowdown has created very favorable home prices across most of North America. Simply moving from a 2800 square foot home to a home under 2300 square feet could save major heating and cooling dollars, depending on the age and condition of the home’s comfort system. There are plenty of great resources for learning about the real estate market in your area. Just browse the real estate section of your local library for all the information you need. Two great sources online are Zillow and RealEstate.com.


When the economy cycles down it can sometimes seem bleak. In fact, it’s just the natural economic cycle that turns with time. You don’t have to do all five of these suggestions to shrug off the fuel pinch. Just accepting a couple of lifestyle and budget adjustments could help you weather the economic storm in style, and comfort.

Estimated savings may vary by usage, age and lifestyle.

Posted: 5/19/2008 4:00:00 AM by Sam