Take Care of Texas News: Summer Fuel Economy, Light Bulb Technology, and Teacher Resources
Fuel Economy Suffers in the Heat
It’s probably not a surprise that using your car’s air conditioning (A/C) is the main contributor to reduced fuel economy in hot weather. How great of an impact it has depends on a number of factors such as the outside temperature, humidity, and intensity of the sun. During hot summers, air conditioning use can reduce a conventional vehicle’s fuel economy by more than 25 percent.
Driving with your windows down can also reduce fuel economy. Open windows increase aerodynamic drag (wind resistance), so your vehicle requires more energy to push through the air. This effect is quite small at low speeds but increases at highway speeds.
To improve fuel economy in hot weather:
- Park in the shade or use a sunshade so that the cabin doesn’t get as hot.
- Drive with the windows open for a short time before using your A/C. Letting hot air out of the cabin first will put less demand on the system and help your vehicle cool faster.
- Don’t idle with the A/C running before driving. Turn the A/C on after you begin to drive or after briefly airing out the cabin. Most A/C systems will cool the vehicle faster while driving.
What Light Bulbs Should I Buy?
An average home uses about 15 percent of its electricity for lighting, but there are easy ways to reduce this energy consumption and save money.
Review the Lighting Facts label on light bulbs before purchasing them. These labels are required by law to help consumers choose the most efficient bulb for their needs. The labels provide helpful information about the bulb, including information on brightness, color, energy usage, estimated operating cost, life expectancy, and mercury content.
You can also look for the ENERGY STAR label when choosing your bulbs. Light bulbs with this label have been proven to meet energy-efficiency standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ENERGY STAR certified bulbs use 70-90 percent less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and over their lifetime can save you between $30 and $80 in electricity cost for each bulb.
Different light bulb technologies exist with varying levels of efficiency:
- Incandescent bulbs, which are based on older technology, convert most of their energy to heat and not light.
- Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) are more energy efficient and last longer than incandescent bulbs. They are now available in a wider range of colors and not just the blue tones of early models. However, CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, so they should be carefully disposed of or recycled whenever possible.
- Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are an emerging light bulb technology. LEDs are long-lasting, efficient, and do not contain mercury, and unlike CFLs or incandescents, they are cool to the touch.
Since light bulbs can contain mercury and heavy metals, they should be disposed of carefully. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of their local recycling or household hazardous waste programs, if available. Visit Earth911.com to find an appropriate recycling center near you. Light bulbs used in homes can be thrown away with regular trash; however, the EPA recommends used or broken CFLs be sealed in a plastic bag.
Another way to save money and electricity is to use natural sunlight as much as possible. You can do this using mirrors and light colors to reflect light within your home. Also, removing obstacles blocking light from your home, such as windowsill clutter, can bring in more sunlight. Other options include adding skylights and window shades that can easily be adjusted to let a maximum amount of light in.
TEACHER RESOURCES
Take Care of Texas has a variety of FREE environmental education materials. You may download or order free copies of posters, activity books, stickers, and bookmarks. The Air Activity Poster and Water Recycles Poster are educational posters that have activities on the back such as crossword, word search, and maze.
WasteInPlace.org was created by Keep America Beautiful. The guide is used to help students learn about litter prevention, beautification and community greening, recycling, and managing solid waste. (Pre-K-6)
EPA Teaching Center offers background information, lesson plans, and activities on a variety of topics, including air, water, energy, and waste. (K-12)
The Energy.gov Education Toolbox has lesson plans, articles, and videos on energy sources, energy efficiency, and science and innovation. The Energy Literacy video series demonstrates energy’s role across the natural and social sciences. The videos are available in Spanish and have corresponding student worksheets and teacher guides. (K-12)
