Pick nature's clothes dryer

Have you noticed that most dryers - even the newer, more advanced machines - have fairly modest energy star ratings? That's because, by their very nature, they're heavy on power usage and expensive to run.

In fact, a medium-sized 2-star clothes dryer used just twice a week will use more power in a year than a medium-sized 4.5 star two-door fridge!

The cost of using a dryer quickly stacks up on your power bills and costs our environment - all for something that can be obtained for free, outside in the fresh air.
Big savings

Take advantage of the sun in your garden or balcony – it's free! Hanging your clothes outside to dry instead of using a dryer can save a huge $280 off your yearly power bill and cut your household's carbon pollution by 1,400kg.
Use only when wet

Consider your dryer only as a drying appliance for really wet weather.

Even better, avoid washing altogether on rainy days. If you can, use clothes horses or airing racks and lines inside to fully or partly dry your washing.

When you do need to use your dryer, follow these power saving tips to lower your power use and impact on our environment:

* use correct temperature settings to minimise the amount of electricity consumed Clean the lint filter regularly to improve the dryer's energy efficiency
* don't overload your dryer – it takes longer to dry your clothes and uses more power
* use residual heat – if you've got several loads, dry them one after the other
* use your washer's spin cycle to make sure clothes aren't soaking wet when you put them in the dryer
* clean the lint filter on the dryer after every load to maximise drying efficiency, maintain full airflow, and minimise fire risk
* create airflow in the laundry by opening doors and windows to prevent humidity forming which slows down drying time
* don't mix heavyweight and lightweight articles in the same load
* share the load, finish drying or partly hang the items outdoors or in the sun

Tips to reduce the amount of gas you use

Drive Sensibly

Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.

Planning and combining trips

Combining errands into one trip saves you time and money. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer multipurpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm. Trip planning ensures that traveling is done when the engine is warmed-up and efficient, and it can reduce the distance you travel.

Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned

Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done.
Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent.

Choosing a more efficient vehicle

Thinking about buying a new vehicle?

Selecting which vehicle to purchase is the most important fuel economy decision you'll make.
The difference between a car that gets 20 MPG and one that gets 30 MPG amounts to $668 per year (assuming 15,000 miles of driving annually and a fuel cost of $2.67).
That's $3,338 extra in fuel costs over five years!

Scotland urged to save money by going greener

A new campaign offering hard-pressed families advice on how to cut their fuel bills and help save the planet in the process was launched today.

Fronted by Mr Earth, the 'Go Greener' campaign will be using radio, tv, outdoor and online advertising to promote energy saving messages.

Launched to coincide with Energy Saving Week, it reminds people that small, simple lifestyle changes can add up to significant financial savings and safeguard the environment for future generations:

• Switching to energy-saving lightbulbs could save the average family up to £60 a year - energy-efficient lightbulbs last around 10 times longer than normal bulbs
• A household can save around eight per cent on fuel bills by switching appliances off at the socket instead of leaving them on stand-by
• Fitting a full heating controls package can save up to £180 per year
• Turning down the heating thermostat by just one degree can cut up to 10 per cent off fuel bills

The campaign follows new research from the Energy Saving Trust, which shows Scots are keen to go greener in order to save money.

Launching the campaign in Edinburgh, Environment Minister Michael Russell said:

"Unless we take decisive action to protect our environment there is every chance that rather than passing on our wonderful heritage, we will have to explain to our children why we ruined it.

Go Greener billboard poster

"Many of us have already changed our ways - recycling more, using more energy-efficient light bulbs and buying more seasonal and unpackaged produce.

"In Government we are also reducing our local and global environmental impact through tackling climate change, moving towards a zero-waste Scotland and increasing the use of renewable energy.

"The energy-saving measures and other steps we're promoting through the 'Go Greener' campaign will help us all make simple changes to the way we lead our lives. Achieving a greener Scotland depends on all of us - and will benefit us all too.

"We need everyone to get involved, so whether you are a business or an individual there are lots of ways to show your support. Go to www.infoscotland.com/gogreener to sign up."

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said:

"Today marks the start of a new drive to encourage more Scottish households and businesses to reduce their energy use and save money through our 'Go Greener' campaign.

"These are clearly tough times, and becoming more green will benefit our wallets as well as our world. The average household could save up to £340 a year just by taking some simple energy efficiency steps.

"Our six-point plan for the Scottish economy includes helping households experiencing difficulties in the current economic climate. We are determined to improve energy efficiency in homes, do more to tackle fuel poverty and offer better financial advice to vulnerable households.

"Our new campaign features simple, helpful advice on how to save money and do your bit to reduce our impact on the planet. We owe it to future generations to take action now."

Harry Mayers, Head of Programme Delivery at the Energy Saving Trust (Scotland), explained:

"These are just a few simple steps we could all fit into our daily life which will make noticeable savings on our annual fuel bills and help protect the environment.

"Simple things such as turning down the thermostat one degree and washing clothes at 30oC instead of a higher temperature will cut down on the amount of energy used.

"Also, hanging clothes up to dry costs nothing and is much better for the environment than using a tumble dryer, which costs a lot to run. An added bonus is that clothes will last longer - the lifespan of elastic and many synthetics is drastically reduced by tumble drying."

Jim Paterson, Sales and Marketing Director at ScottishPower, who are actively supporting the new campaign, said:

"ScottishPower is committed to helping customers get the best out of energy use and as such, fully supports the efforts of the Scottish Government's Go Greener campaign.

"We are all looking for ways to save money on energy bills and by taking simple steps, households can make substantial savings as well as making their homes more comfortable whilst doing their bit to protect our environment.

"As a leading developer and operator of wind farms, ScottishPower is committed to promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency."

Taking action to reduce energy and help cut fuel bills by installing energy-saving lightbulbs and not leaving devices on standby are two simple yet effective actions the Scottish Government is promoting as part of its 'Go Greener' campaign.

Tips to stay greener at home

Improve your insulation
Around half the heat lost in your home escapes through the walls and roof. Installing loft and cavity wall insulation will not only stop heat loss - it could also reduce your bills.

Use labels to buy energy and water efficient appliances
The Energy Saving Recommended logo can only be used by the most energy efficient products, usually the top 20 per cent of those available.

Use timers and thermostats
Take control of your heating and you could save energy and money.

Switch to energy-saving bulbs
Choosing energy-saving light bulbs is one of the easiest ways of cutting your energy use.

Keep the VOCs low
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are found in paints, finishes and preservatives, can be harmful to humans, wildlife and plants. Most of these products carry a label showing their VOC content, so try choosing the ones with lower VOCs.

Turn off appliances instead of leaving them on standby
Electrical appliances left on standby waste six to ten per cent of all energy used in the average home. Switch TVs, stereos, mobile phone chargers and other gadgets off at the switch or the plug when you're not using them.

Install water-saving products
Low-flush-volume toilet cisterns, water efficient shower heads and aerating heads on washbasin taps help reduce your water use significantly.

6 Tips for safe summer

At home, you can keep cool and reduce the risk of heat exhaustion by:

• stocking up on supplies like medicines, food and non-alcoholic drinks, so you won’t have to go out in the heat

• organising your day to avoid being outside during the hottest time (11.00 am to 3.00 pm), if possible

• doing strenuous outdoor activities, like DIY or gardening, during cooler parts of the day, like early morning

• wearing a hat and light, loose-fitting clothing, taking plenty of water with you and keeping to the shade, if you have to go out

• taking cold showers or baths and splashing yourself often with cold water

• drinking plenty of fluids, like juice or water – avoid coffee and alcohol

Older people and children are particularly at risk from heat exhaustion and heatstroke and will need extra attention.

Visit Napa Valley this summer

Napa Valley catches the attention of millions of wine and nature lovers every year. California Wine Country attracts more than five million visitors each year. The main attraction in the valley is the world renowned wineries, visiting wine making process and an opportunity to experience the most fabulous wines.

Though California Wine Country is bountiful with scenic beauties, the wine industries and the making of world class wines formulate this valley a top tourist spot. There are some well organized tours best among that is Napa Valley tours that showcase the best wineries in the world. The Napa Valley tours takes visitors through a 30-mile valley, starting from San Francisco Ferry Building, passing through V.Sattui winery, Rutherford Ranch winery, Domaine Shandon and ends by ferry/bay cruise at the Ferry Building.

The significant features of the tour include- as a minimum three to four winery visits, you can see wine making from start to finish - with wine tasting experience, a chance to buy wine at low prices and the tour provides an occasion to take pleasure in the panoramic views of the valley.

For more information visit http://www.winecountrytourshuttle.com/

Tips for saving ENERGY this summer

...at home
• Keep your air conditioner in the shade. An air conditioner exposed to direct sunlight will use 5 per cent more energy than a shaded one.
• Adjust your air conditioner's thermostat when you go out and shut down your system when you are away for extended periods.
• Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120ºF) for everyday use, and turn it down when you go away.
• Turn off and unplug stereos, radios, TVs, VCRs and clocks when you leave for holidays. These appliances have a stand-by function that uses energy even when they are turned off.

...on the road
• Don't use the air conditioner in stop-and-go traffic and you save on fuel consumption by as much as 20 per cent. Stay cool at highway speeds by using your car's flow-through ventilation.
• Don't idle. Idling for one hour uses 1.4 litres of fuel. If every Canadian motorist avoided idling by only 10 minutes daily, approximately three million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions would be avoided every year.
• Remove roof racks and put luggage in the trunk. (Saves up to five per cent of fuel by reducing aerodynamic drag.)
• Gradual starters save money. Avoid flooring the gas pedal from a dead stop. This uses 50 per cent more fuel than gradually pulling away.
• Keep your tires inflated. Under-inflated tires can increase your fuel consumption by five per cent.