High Efficiency Nozzles Keep Water in Your Yard, Not on the Street Wednesday, August 31st, 2011

By Bill Sullivan

As Director of Public Works for the City of Frisco, Gary Hartwell spends a lot of time thinking about water. He even goes so far as to take the job home, using his own irrigation system, landscaping and yard as a test site for new equipment and ideas. Over the past few years, “smart” controllers have come and gone, but one part of his system remained constant.

“I’ve always had the standard spray heads and some rotors in my backyard,” he said.

A few months ago, Hartwell decided to test yet another controller. In the course of making the change, the manufacturer’s representative mentioned a new product: high efficiency spray nozzles that insure that more of the water you try to put on your lawn actually ends up there.

To prove his point, the rep offered to switch out Hartwell’s nozzles, starting with the ones closest to the curb in front of his Frisco home. Even with nozzles properly positioned, wind commonly caught spray and blew it onto the pavement, often into little rivers that made their wasteful way down the block.

Hartwell didn’t have to wait long for results. “Once we switched those out, there was no longer overspray,” he said. “Right there, I saw that these things really work.”

The difference? High efficiency nozzles deliver bigger droplets. The extra weight helps prevent those droplets from being carried off course by hot summer breezes. According to Hartwell’s rep, the new nozzles land about 85 percent of their payload on the desired areas. On a windy day, the manufacturer estimates, old nozzles may deliver 50 percent or less.

Each of the major irrigation system manufacturers (Hunter, Toro and Rain Bird) offers high efficiency models. They’re a bit more expensive — $5 per nozzle as opposed to about $1 for an older model – but a typical yard with, say, eight stations with six sprinkler heads each could be refitted for just $240. Residents who water more than others would probably see some cash savings, while those who more closely follow city recommendations would get more actual irrigation for their buck.

If you’re interested in making the switch, you’ll have to make some adjustments to your watering schedule.  The high efficiency nozzles put out water at a rate of about ½ inch per hour, compared to older nozzles that deliver about 1.2 inches per hour. That will mean adjusting your system to run twice as long, or slightly more.

In the hot, dry summer of 2011, every drop counts. That led to some phone calls to the city when residents noticed water running down the streets from irrigation efforts, particularly along medians, near The Bridges.

“They have hundreds, if not thousands of heads in that entire area,” Hartwell said. “It’s just the nature of the beast: When you put spray heads next to driving lanes and throw in some wind, that’s going to happen.”

Hartwell decided to call The Bridges and ask if they would be interested in being part of a pilot study. Soon enough, representatives from The Bridges, Hunter, Toro, Rain Bird and the City of Frisco were meeting at Frisco Public Works. The group focused on the median at the intersection of Parkwood and Gaylord and decided to experiment  there.

Hartwell took “Before and After” pictures, which he brought to a recent City Council meeting.

Before	After

“In the “After” pictures, you had to look closely to see that these things were operating,” he said. “They just don’t have the spray and the spray’s not getting caught in the wind.”

A week later, Hartwell learned that The Bridges purchased 216 of the new nozzles and installed them in areas residents had complained about the most.

“It has worked extremely well for us,” said Scott Barkley, who oversees irrigation at The Bridges. “We were having a lot of problems with water in the streets and water being blown around by the wind, and we were getting a lot of complaints.

“Now, we’ve got no more problems with the wind, and no running water. It’s worked great.”

(For residents concerned about The Bridges wasting Frisco water, a caveat: The Bridges development is on a well of its own and doesn’t draw from Frisco’s supply. As such, the company is not subject to Frisco water policy.)

Following up on the success with The Bridges, the City is considering incorporating high efficiency nozzles in upcoming landscape projects. A rebate program is also a possibility, allowing homeowners to make the switch with even less upfront investment.

Meanwhile, Hartwell enjoys a lush, green lawn while adhering to the City’s current weekly watering recommendations. He is using his smart controller as a regular controller set to run the suggested two days a week.

So far, he has converted all but one of his zones to the new nozzles. It doesn’t take long, he says, to notice the difference.

“I was out in my backyard last week,” he said. “There was some wind.

“When Zone 8 comes on, all of a sudden there was water going against my fence and blowing everywhere. I could actually see how much water wasn’t going on my backyard from those rotors, when essentially every drop from the high efficiency nozzles was going on my yard.”

Tags: Frisco Public Works, Gary Hartwell, high efficiency nozzles, Hunter, Rain Bird, Toro

Posted in Air & Water, Public Works, Water Efficiency

How to Make Lunch More Eco-Friendly? It’s in the Bag! Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011

The world is exploding with trash, and you can trace it to at least one source: Your lunch bag.

What’s in there? A couple ziploc plastic baggies? Some prepackaged snacks in little plastic containers? Cracker trays with their own throwaway plastic knives? Disposable fruit cups? Aluminum foil wrap? It’s all destined for the trash bin at the end of the day. That’s a lot of mining, oil refining and industrial processes devoted to stuff that’s used for about 12 hours.

This school year make the switch to a completely reuseable, eco-friendly lunch array. You’ll reduce the trash you’re spewing, teach your children better ways and de-toxify their lunches. It’s easy. Here are eight ideas.

1 — One Mango Tree lunch bag – sold by World of Good at eBay. $22

This colorful lunch bag, sourced from local fabrics and nicely sized at 8.5″ wide, 9″ tall, 4.5″ deep with an inside button closure, is made by women in Northern Uganda in a region economically depressed by 20 years of political strife.

Its purchase helps the collective producing these bags feed and send their children to school. That’s a nice karmic circle as you get your own child ready for classes. OK, we admit we like this one for ourselves, but it’s also appropriate for teens.

2 – Bento Box lunch kit 2.0 – sold by Reuseit.com. $43.95

The concept here is that almost any sort of lunch tidbit can be delivered to the lunching person, if there are enough ways to cordon off foods. Your salad, crackers and fruit slices can all be neatly confined to their own territory. Everything here is protected by a small maze of containers, and while we don’t love the plastic abundance, it is BPA free and made for extended use – unlike the plastic wrap, disposable zip bags and the pre-packaged snacks that are swamping our school trash bins.

The kit includes a thermal carrying case, large outer container, five “microwavable safe” food containers (but we wouldn’t recommend microwaving anything in plastic), a sport bottle and a stainless steel utensil set and a recipe book with tips. It’s all BPA-free, and also free of phthalates and lead.

Kudos to the designers for making this so decorative and kid-friendly, and finding a way to make the containers in the US. The carrying case and sports bottle are made in China.

3 – A 3-piece lunch kit – sold by Blue Avocado. $24.99

This kit starts with a collapsible lunch bag that’s made from 50 percent recycled plastic from plastic bottles. It measures 6” x 10.25” x 9” and comes with a carbon footprint-audited impact label. It has been tested for food safety and is machine washable. Also in the kit: a reusable sandwich pack and a reusable “rezip” see-through snack bag. The lunch pack features a mesh water bottle holder for your own reusable water bottle.

The three women who started Blue Avocado in Austin believe in verifiable carbon reduction, and in keeping products as recyclable as possible. See more about their company at their FAQ.

4 – Bug and flower patterned snack bags — from EarthSwag.com. Pack of two $16

For those of you who already have a lunch bag, here’s a way to populate it with reusable snack holders. EarthSwag, started by entrepreneur Sara O’Connor of Basalt Colo., has designed bags made from cotton. That’s nice because they’re washable and they’ll biodegrade someday. The fabric is “bacteria-inhibiting,” making it food safe, O’Connor told us at a recent demonstration.

O’Connor says the biggest hurdle for people making the leap to reusables is the upfront cost of the bags, in this case, each one is $8. But they save users money over the year, as well as helping slow the flow of plastic trash that’s degrading our land and marine environments. Once people realize they really save money in the long term, they’re in, she said.

EarthSwag.com also sells sandwich wraps in matching fabrics.

5 – Sandwich sacks by Snack Taxi.com. $8.95 each

Owner Erin Kelly-Dill started this successful enterprise in 2003 after witnessing the vast number of disposable plastic bags the family was generating in school lunches. Since then, Snack Taxi has blossomed, and today the company makes one of the most durable reusable sandwich bags we’ve encountered. They’re cotton on the outside and lined with a nylon-like fiber inside, making them washable, and they come in dozens of fun patterns involving giraffes, gnomes and other whimsical things and creatures.

They’re available online and are sold in natural food and green living stores across the country. We got ours at the Wheatsville Coop in Austin. Find retail locations at the Snack Taxi website.

6 – A zip snack bag — from Blue Avocado. 4.99 each or 19.99 for a 6-pack

We couldn’t pass up this 6-pack, which seems like a great deal when you consider how many times you’d have to buy zip lock bags at the grocery to pack a year’s worth of lunches.

These bags are made of non-toxic Peva film, which is considered safe. Blue Avocado says they’ve been lab tested for food safety and are machine washable. We would add that the safest approach to any plastic is to never heat anything in it, and to wash it in cold water. That said, we like the see thru aspect of these bags….and the company’s commitment to upcycling, recycling and reducing.

7 – Lunch Bots containers — sold by Reuseit. $11.95 to $14.95

Not everything in a lunch can be tossed into a bag. Sloppy stuff like salads or fruit slices or even, ummm, pie, require a little more stability. Pack these things in a stainless steel Lunch Bot, which is available in a single, duo- and trio-compartment versions.

We have zero reservations about stainless steel. It’s washable, recyclable and imparts no funny smells from yesterday. Lunch Bots also are lead free and BPA free. This is truly a workhorse product, and while it reminds us of those stainless steel thermoses of yesteryear, this is a lightweight item, appropriate even for the toddler set.

Why did we ever abandon this material for plastic? Oh yeah, plastic comes in colors. But Lunch Bots have colorful lids of coated steel. Fun without the big trash footprint.

Speaking of thermoses, LunchBots.com makes one of those too. Find it at their site.

8 – Stainless steel utensils — made by Zelco, sold at Reuseit. $13.95 for a set

Why are we plowing through millions of plastic spoons, forks and sporks every day? There’s no reason, and no need if you’re packing a lunch at home. Once you’ve gotten your lunch bag and containers selected, it’s time to get right with utensils.

We like this stainless steel set by Zelco because it comes with a cover to protect the utensils from ickiness in the lunch bag.

Bamboo utensils are another option, and you can find a set of three from Reuseit for $7.95. They might not be quite as durable as the stainless, but they’re eco-friendly both at the source, and when they’re done. Ours are on their second year and holding up quite well. We wash them by hand.

Cotton and recycled carrying cases are available for these eating tools.

*****

Not only with these supplies hold you in good stead this school year, they’ll encourage a healthier way of eating. When you’re packing your own snacks — instead of those pre-packed by Big Food brands — you can leave out the sugar, food dyes and preservatives.

So this school year, or work season, challenge yourself to be trash-free. You may just find that less is more.

Tags: eco-friendly lunch bags, reusable lunch bags

Posted in Food & Health, Recycling & Waste, The Green Life

Adopting a Greener Lifestyle Can Put a Few Drops Back in the Bucket Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011

If you want to save something, try water. It’s going fast. Depletion of the U.S. water supply isn’t something you can argue about. It’s visible, measurable and predictable. Since 2005, every U.S. region has been short on water, and use increases annually. Even New York City has experienced drought in recent years.

Population growth is one factor in the shortage. But the more sobering issue is that the U.S. water supply itself is in permanent decline.

The country’s breadbasket regions in the Midwest and California are sopping up water faster than rain or snow can replenish it. The Colorado River and its reservoirs, serving seven population-growth states and Mexico, are running dry. Dozens of California municipalities have imposed water rationing, and 500,000 farm acres there lie fallow. A respected study says one Colorado basin boom town — Phoenix, the fifth largest city in the U.S. — has a 50-50 chance of running dry by 2021.

The Ogallala Aquifer (beneath Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming) is running dry with a refill unlikely. The aquifer irrigates most Great Plains agriculture. Switching to low-water crops may be its only hope.

At the same time, the country is switching to “clean” industries, some of which — like manufacturing microchips — use a lot of water. Nuclear power, another “clean” enterprise, could reduce our carbon footprint, but it will require a lot of water.

In view of the great slurp industrial and agricultural users are taking, can mere individuals have any impact on water supplies? Can adopting a green lifestyle put a drop back in the bucket?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says, yes.

“Homes use half the water in the U.S., more than is used by business or industry,” said Stephanie Thornton of the EPA’s WaterSense program. On average, we each use 100 gallons of water a day at home, in addition to the 47 gallons each of us consumes out in the community. Thornton says there is so much waste that relatively small changes could conserve billions of gallons.

“Toilets are by far the biggest water user inside the home, accounting for 30 percent of water used,” she said. “Replacing every old toilet with new low-flow models across the country would save 640 billion gallons annually.”

It’s easy to find the right toilet: just look for the EPA’s WaterSense label, which identifies high-performing, water-efficient products for use throughout the home. (The agency’s Energy Star label indicates energy efficiency.)

Another thing you can do: eliminate leaks. The EPA estimates U.S. homes leak more than a trillion gallons of water a year.

But there’s much more to do. Start small and work up to planning some major household purchases:

LITTLE THINGS YOU CAN DO

For starters, here are a few simple tips that require nothing but kicking bad habits.

Indoors:

• Meditate without the water feature: Don’t run water while shaving, rinsing dishes, washing hands or brushing teeth.
• Take five-minute showers: turn water off to lather up and on to rinse.
• Collect shower water and flow spewed from faucets while you wait for hot water: reuse it for watering plants indoors and out.
• Keep a container of chilled drinking water in the fridge: avoid running tap water until cool.
• Dispose of food waste in a compost pile or a garbage can: avoid using a high water-volume garbage disposal.

Outdoors:

• Sweep. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean sidewalks, driveways and patios.
• Seal drippy hose connections. Spend ten cents on a washer.
• Reduce evaporation. Water plants in the early morning and use sprinklers that make big drops instead of a mist that evaporates before it hits the ground.
• Water less. Most people water too much. Use mulch to retain moisture, and very little fertilizer—it needs water to work. Windbreaks and fences can slow evaporation by wind.
• Don’t water when it rains. Sounds obvious, but is a strangely overlooked strategy. Build on the idea with rain shut-off devices for irrigated yards.

BIGGER THINGS YOU CAN DO

Low-water upgrades are available in virtually every appliance that uses water.

Aerators or flow restrictors: Retrofit all faucets with these little gems. At $1 or $2 each, they can save 2,700 gallons a year per faucet. By adding air to the water stream, they reduce the flow rate of high volume faucets to .5-2.5 gallons per minute or less. The result is a spray that maintains water pressure. Each aerator’s flow rate is imprinted on its side.

Low-flow toilets: For $100 you can replace old toilets that use four gallons per flush or more with new high-efficiency toilets (HET), rated at 1.6 GPF (gallons per flush) or less, or dual-flush toilets. The flush rate is posted inside the tank. You can get a pressure-assisted toilet, but traditional gravity-flush toilets are adequate in most homes.

Dual-flush toilets have two options, one for a liquid waste flush that uses less than a gallon, and a second one for solid waste that uses 1.6 gallons. This split option can reduce water usage by up to 67 percent, and you don’t have to think about it — an infrared sensor light activates the appropriate flush.

A high-efficiency toilet can save 4,000 gallons of water per person per year.

If you can’t install a low-flow toilet, try to displace some water in your old tank. But avoid the old trick of putting a brick in it – bricks crumble. Instead, fill a plastic gallon bottle with water and submerge it in the toilet tank. It reduces the volume of water used in each flush.

Low-water showerhead: The maximum flow allowed by the EPA is 2.5 GPM (gallons per minute), but many new showerheads use less. Showerheads with the WaterSense label must use no more than 2.0 GPM.

One way to boost efficiency is by aerating, or oxygenating, the spray, an especially useful technology for homes with low water pressure – and one that helps avoid the flattened hair-dos featured in a famous Seinfeld episode involving low-flow showerheads. Here are some choices:

• An Aqua Helix model ($30) aerates the flow with a “spinning cone” technology to maintain a strong spray that consumes less than .5 GPM.
• For $20, the Oxygenics SkinCare aerated showerhead reduced water use to 1.5 GPM. It’s sold online and at major home improvement stores.
• Kohler has begun offering low-flow options, with a selection that includes 1.75 GPM showerheads.
• Moen also has brought low-flow showerheads into its inventory, getting water use down to 1.5 or 1.75 GPM with in a variety of models.

Tankless water heater: Seas of water go down the drain while we wait for hot water to flow to us through the plumbing. Tankless heaters, or

“on-demand” heaters, skip the pipes, heating the water as it is used. Low energy electric and gas tankless heaters range from whole-home units, starting around $1,000, that can support two simultaneous showers to smaller under-the-counter units. One under-the counter unit, the Stiebel Eltron Mini 4 ($150) can be installed in a single bathroom, kitchen or laundry room. Generally, gas-units provide more hot water than electric units.

The units also may lower water-heating energy bills by 20 percent because they don’t heat standing water. But on-demand units aren’t right for every household. Some heaters provide only five heated gallons of water per minute. That’s enough for one or two people, but those who need multiple showers or do laundry and wash dishes at the same time may have problems.

If you don’t go tankless, insulate your pipes and water heater to keep the water in them hot or cold, decreasing the need to run water until it’s the right temperature.

Hot water-recirculating system. Here, hot water recirculates between the faucet and water heater to stay hot, eliminating the wait for hot water. Systems include a hot water line that goes from the heater to the farthest fixture and back to the heater, a pump, thermostat, a timer and some valves. Manufacturers estimate 11,000 to 15,000 gallons can be saved annually for average families by eliminating the wait for hot water. Cost is $1,200-$1,500; rebates may be available for retrofitting existing homes.

Low-water clothes washer. Most washers use about 40 gallons of water per load and can account for 25 percent of indoor household water use, according to the EPA. You can halve that figure with a front-loading washer. Look for the EPA’s WaterSense label when purchasing a new washer. If you do your laundry outside the home, look for a business that uses low-water-use washers.

New front-loading models use very little water by scrubbing the laundry differently—they drop it, during the spin, instead of using an agitator post. Look for a model with a water volume under four cubic feet that uses less than 6.5 gallons water per cubic foot. Some new top-loaders use high-pressure sprayers to agitate and rinse the clothes, cutting down on water use. But they may not clean clothes as effectively as front-loaders, according to Consumer Reports.

Recently, prices have dropped on the new low water-use models, which are also more energy efficient.

Low-water dishwasher. New dishwashers can use less water than washing by hand — if they are operated only when full and if dishes are not rinsed before loading. Hand-rinsing can consume 20 gallons per load. Water-efficient models use on average only four gallons per load, almost 40 percent less than other dishwashers, saving 1,000 gallons of water a year. Look for dishwashers with the Energy Star label. That means it uses 5.6 gallons or less per load. Others use more than eight gallons.

Water treatment cutback: Water softeners consume 15 to 120 gallons for each 1,000 gallons of water used. Reverse osmosis (RO) units waste from two to nine gallons for one RO gallon. If you have water softeners or RO units, turn them off when you go on vacation. Water softeners should only be used when mineral levels in the water are likely to damage pipes. When necessary, use only as much as needed.

Xeriphytic (low-water) plants. The United States Department of Agriculture says low-water plants grow in every region. Hardy examples include succulents and narrow-leafed evergreens, which can do well even in humid climates. For regional recommendations, visit the Natural Resources Conservation Service online.

Harvest rainwater. Kids ask where does the rain go? You can answer that question by harvesting water for use later. Simple systems use gutters, downspouts and contoured yards to direct rain to the garden.

To get the most from a downpour, collect rainwater in a barrel. Some systems can cost a thousand dollars and involve pumps, multiple barrels and hoses networked from gutters to garden. But it can be much simpler: Get a 50-60 gallon rainbarrel and connect it to a gutter spout. Most are closed with a lid or tightly screen at the top. You can prevent mosquito infiltration by using a biological mosquito control (mosquito “dunks”).

One well-reviewed heavy plastic barrel is the Achla RB-01 Rain Catcher Water Barrel for $100-$160. It holds 54 gallons, has a flat back to fit snuggly against a house and includes a debris screen, watering hose, connections for multiple barrels and its safe design keeps kids and animals from falling in. But there are many other models available; some are even made of recycled plastic or are re-purposed bulk food containers.

Trickle irrigation. Use a trickle or drip irrigation system instead of a sprinkler. Water loss through evaporation is minimal because the water goes directly to the roots. A drip system requires a few valves, a filter, automatic timer, tubing and water emitters. It may sound complicated, but it’s not, nor is it expensive. But it needs occasional maintenance to make sure the emitters aren’t clogged.

Low-water car wash. Patronize a commercial car wash that recycles water used at the site or sends used water to a treatment plant. It can be the most low-water way to wash your vehicle.

The desert-based Arizona Dept. of Water Resources, explains commercial washing, as follows:

• Self service washes use roughly 12 gallons per car. Water lost to evaporation and carryout (what’s left on the car when it leaves) account for 20 percent of water used. Look for facilities that use low-flow spray wand nozzles that shut off when not in use.

• Automatic washes that convey a car through the wash use 44 gallons per wash with17 percent lost to evaporation and carryout.

• Automatic washes that rotate the washing equipment around a stationary vehicle use about 72 gallons per wash — 33 percent from evaporation and carryout.

If you self-wash, try using a waterless car wash, such as Eco Touch ($10 for a 24-oz. bottle that cleans and shines up to six washes).

For a water wash, do it on grass or dirt, which works as a filter and reuses the water as irrigation. A mild soapy solution will not harm the lawn. Use a bucket and a nozzle or water wand with an automatic shut-off. Nozzles cost $5-$20; wands start at about $10.

Pool sense. Cover pools and spas to reduce evaporation, which can account for thousands of gallons a year. A cover that doubles as a security barrier can cost more than $1,000, but a simple evaporation barrier costs $100-$200.

Of course, water runs through nearly everything we consume. Decreasing the slurp any individual takes means buying goods that are produced responsibly. Fruit and vegetables grown with pesticides and fertilizers that pollute water and beef raised in water-wasting Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) all drive up our personal water consumption levels exponentially. The best way to control that factor is to know where things originate. Make a habit of asking merchants where things come from.

One last thing you can do: monitor your water use. An easy way to assess it is to pay attention to your water bill. If it spikes unexpectedly, you may have a leak, and you should check for it. The repair may be as simple as replacing a washer. That can save you some water, and some money.

Tags: Air & Water, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. water supply, Water Conservation, WaterSense

Posted in Air & Water, People & Projects, Water Efficiency

Frisco Moves to Stage 2 Drought Restrictions Tuesday, August 9th, 2011

Effective August 19, the City of Frisco is moving to Stage 2 drought restrictions in the Frisco Water Management Plan, at the direction of the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD).

Frisco’s Stage 2 water restrictions call for a 5% reduction in water use by mandating residents take the following actions:

• Limit outdoor watering to two-days-per-week, which coincides with residents’ trash service day plus an additional day (See www.friscotexas.gov/water to determine your additional outdoor watering day).
• Do not water outside between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. and between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
• Do not allow water to flow away from property.
• Do not water hard surfaces, like streets and driveways.

Restrictions apply to automatic sprinkler systems. Hand watering, soaker hoses and drip/bubbler systems, used to protect home foundations or tend to trees and shrubs, are allowed anytime of the year.

“Frisco residents have essentially been following these outdoor watering restrictions since 2009, when the Frisco City Council adopted our Water Efficiency Plan, which is part of our greater Frisco Water Management Plan,” said Gary Hartwell, Director of Public Works. “Every summer since then, July 1 through September 30, our mandatory restrictions go into effect in order to meet our goal – as well as the state’s goal – to reduce usage per person,” added Hartwell.

“Moving to Stage 2 of our Drought and Emergency Response plan means we have an urgency to use water wisely because of a water supply issue related to the district. That’s why it’s important for Frisco to align our watering practices with the district (NTMWD) as one of its member cities.”

NTMWD announced Stage 2 restrictions effective August 1 as a result of:

• temporary loss of raw water supply due to invasive zebra mussels;
• continued drought;
• record usage for the district;
• approaching treatment plant capacity during high consumption periods.

By imposing Stage 2 ‘drought and emergency’ restrictions, Frisco is able to extend the two-day, time-of-day restrictions, if necessary, beyond the September 30 end date, described in the City of Frisco’s year-round, Water Efficiency Plan.

Tags: City of Frisco, Frisco Public Works, Frisco Water Management Plan, Gary Hartwell, North Texas Municipal Water District

Posted in Air & Water, News, Public Works, Water Efficiency

Cut Pollution and Expense with “Drive Clean Across Texas” Monday, August 1st, 2011

With summer in full swing a lot of us will be headed out on the roadways for vacations and summer travel. A new statewide initiative just kicked off called “Drive Clean Across Texas.” Its mission is to save you money at the pump along with reduction air pollution.

Here are some simple tips:

• Keep your tires properly inflated. When your tires are low, they produce more drag. More drag makes your engine work harder and in turn that produces more air pollution. It also reduces your gas mileage.
• Consider using a multi-grade motor oil called “energy conserving.” Special additives in the oil reduce harmful emissions and can improve your fuel economy by five to ten percent.
• Another way to save: travel light. Carrying around extra weight in your vehicle causes your engine to work harder and use more gas.
• Finally, make sure you stop at the click. While filling up, don’t top off the tank, which will cause fumes to escape. Also tighten the gas cap. A loose cap can cause you to lose 30 gallons of gas a year to the air.

The “Drive Clean Across Texas” campaign is giving away a low emission hybrid vehicle to one lucky Texan. To enter and to learn about more ways you can drive clean head to its website.

Tags: air pollution, Drive Clean Across Texas

Posted in Air & Water, Air Quality, People & Projects