Driving fuel efficiency up, home costs down Published Oct. 20, 2010 By Robin Liggett 354th Civil Engineering Squadron contractor EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Eavesdrop on a conversation these days and you are likely to overhear people talking about fuel and electricity. How much it costs, how much is used, how much is wasted. Since it is Energy Awareness Month, now is a good time to talk about how to save. With gas prices at $3.74 and threatening to break the $4 mark, fuel efficiency is likely on everybody's mind. We all have an interest in saving a few bucks or milking those last few drops of gasoline for all they're worth. Conserving fuel is equivalent to saving energy, which also means conserving our environment and saving money. Please read and heed the following tips to improve everyday fuel efficiency: - Idling earns 0 mpg. The best way to warm up a vehicle is to drive it. - Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and hard braking) wastes gas -- decreasing highway gas mileage by 33 percent and city mileage by five percent. - Avoid high speeds. Reach anything above 60 mph and gas mileage drops rapidly. - Use the proper grade of motor oil recommended by a car's manufacturer. Using a different one can lower gas mileage by two percent. - Keep tires inflated and aligned to recommended psi to improve gas mileage by about 3.3 percent. - Get regular engine tune ups to avoid fuel economy problems due to worn spark plugs, dragging brakes, low transmission fluid and transmission problems. - Replacing clogged air filters will improve gas mileage by 10 percent and keeps the engine healthy. - Reduce drag by placing items inside the car or truck but don't carry more than necessary; every extra 100 pounds decreases gas mileage by about two percent. - Consider telecommuting or car pooling and combine errands into one efficient trip. Another hot topic is the new housing construction on base. Once completed, there will be 349 new units and another 99 remodeled homes. They are all being built to the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) standards. The design for the new military family housing integrates energy efficient technology, from radiant floor heat to low energy fixtures. The efficient envelope design includes elevated levels of insulation, air tightness and a heat recovery system to minimize air infiltration. Low flow plumbing fixtures, Energy Star-rated appliances, and compact fluorescent lighting are standard throughout. The buildings are offset and given maximum spacing to achieve lower density and to allow sunlight to brighten the neighborhood. New underground concrete utility corridors will distribute utilities, simplifying future maintenance and reducing loss due to thermal conductivity in the distribution network. All these design components will result in homes that uses less than half the energy of those built to the previous 2004 IECC standard. No matter where you live or to what standard a house was built, here are a few reminders for how everyone can save energy at home: - Switch to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. - Turn off lights when you leave a room and shut off computers and TVs when not in use. - Unplug electrical accessories like cell phone chargers, coffee pots and printers. - Purchase Energy Star-rated appliances; only run the clothes or dish washers when there is a full load. - Turn the thermostat down a couple of degrees. At home or out and about, energy conservation can make a major contribution to the mission.