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Top 7 Secrets To Commuting By Bike

 

Do you wince when you fill up your gas tank? Don’t expect the pain at the pump to end anytime soon. That makes it the right time to grab your bike and use it to get to work and run errands. You’ll save money and Do Your Part for the planet at the same time. Here are my ‘Top 7 Secrets to Commuting by Bike.’

1) Ride the Right Bike

The right bike will make all the difference in the world. There are simple mountain bikes or ones made with commuting in mind. You can find ones which will have everything from chain guards to fenders to hardwired lights. There are even bikes with skirt guards so you can wear your favorite dress or skirt without worry.

2) Ride Responsibly

In places where there are no designated bike lanes, position yourself as far to the right as is practical. And, be on the watch for the so called “door zone” with cars parked on the street. That’s the space where drivers open up their doors which can cause serious injury to cyclists. Try not to ride on sidewalks which are for pedestrians or on the left side of the street where drivers may not see you until.

3) Select Safety Accessories

A bike mirror mounted on your left handlebar will be your best friend. You can use it to scan traffic behind you. Another good idea is a set of lights for the front and rear. If you’re going to be riding early in the morning, at dusk or at night, lights are mandatory as it is almost impossible to see a bike clearly during these times. You’ll also want to invest in a bike lock.

4) Research Your Route

Your usual way of getting someplace by car may not be the safest way to go by bike. A higher level of comfort will only come with time and experience so if you are new to commuting by bike, plan your route carefully. Google maps offers a fantastic tool for this that factors in your mode of transportation and will filter out bike unfriendly roads.

5) Stash Your Stuff

You’ll also need some way to carry your stuff. Backpacks or messenger bags are good options especially ones with a waist strap. You could also use a basket or rear racks. You might be surprised to see how much you can actually transport with the right equipment.

6) Use Your Helmet

Make sure your helmet fits properly. It should be snug but comfortable and the bottom edge of the helmet should be two finger widths above your eyebrow. And remember, ones with more vents are better in the summer and less vents will make you more comfortable in winter.

7) Stay Strong

At some point, somebody is going to tell you that you are crazy for using a bike to get around. Keep in mind that they are the ones paying those shocking gas prices. You, on the other hand, are Doing Your Part by reducing your dependence on foreign oil and contributing less pollution to our planet.

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Do Your Part: Rent, Swap, and Share – Anything!

If you’re looking for a way to swap, rent, and share what you have directly to other people – it’s now easier than ever. This new way of doing business is the perfect way to Do Your Part to reduce waste and be thrifty!

Take a look at this.  Say you’re getting away and want to rent a house for a day or even a month.  I could browse the pictures of this beautiful living room one day…and be sitting in it the next! AirBnB.com is an easy to use hub for linking home owners with travelers who want anything from a one night getaway in New York City to a longer stay in a mountain cabin.

The same goes for the car you own.  RelayRides.com hooks up drivers in need with car owners. You can see what’s available where you are and check out the price per hour, day, and week.  That’s a smaller example of a bigger success story. ZipCar.com allows thousands of drivers to access cars at any time across the country.  Now, think of all the things that are just sitting around your house that someone else would like to use. It could be video games, books, or a designer purse. Swap.com is one place to go to swap what you don’t want for something you do. Your options are absolutely endless.

And, anyone with children knows just how quickly they outgrow clothes.  ThredUp.com lets you earn credits for gently used clothing you no longer need. Then, use those credits to shop for the children’s clothing you do want. Getting more use out of the things we already own is an important way to Do Your Part. Utilizing technology to help make it happen also makes it easier than ever before.

 

 

 

 

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Top 7 Secrets to Commuting by Bike

Do you wince when you fill up your gas tank? Don’t expect the pain at the pump to end anytime soon. That makes it the right time to grab your bike and use it to get to work and run errands. You’ll save money and Do Your Part for the planet at the same time. To make sure you have everything you need to get started, I’m collaborating with Ellen Stoune, former president of the Rock Hill Bicycle Club in South Carolina to share our ‘Top 7 Secrets to Commuting by Bike.’

1) Ride the Right Bike

The right bike will make all the difference in the world. There are simple mountain bikes or ones made with commuting in mind. You can find ones that will have everything from chain guards to fenders to hardwired lights. There are even bikes with skirt guards so you can wear your favorite dress or skirt without worry.

2) Ride Responsibly

In places where there are no designated bike lanes, position yourself as far to the right as is practical. And, be on the watch for the so-called “door zone” with cars parked on the street. That’s the space where drivers open up their doors that can cause serious injury to cyclists. Try not to ride on sidewalks that are for pedestrians or on the left side of the street where drivers may not see you.

3) Select Safety Accessories

A bike mirror mounted on your left handlebar will be your best friend. You can use it to scan traffic behind you. Another good idea is a set of lights for the front and rear. If you’re going to be riding early in the morning, at dusk or at night, lights are mandatory as it is almost impossible to see a bike clearly during these times. You’ll also want to invest in a bike lock. 4) Research Your RouteYour usual way of getting someplace by car may not be the safest way to go by bike. A higher level of comfort will only come with time and experience so if you are new to commuting by bike, plan your route carefully. Goggle maps offer a fantastic tool for this that factors in your mode of transportation and will filter out bike unfriendly roads.

5) Stash Your Stuff

You’ll also need some way to carry your stuff. Backpacks or messenger bags are good options especially ones with a waist strap. You could also use a basket or rear racks. You might be surprised to see how much you can actually transport with the right equipment.

6) Use A Helmet

Make sure your helmet fits properly. It should be snug but comfortable and the bottom edge of the helmet should be two finger widths above your eyebrow. And remember, ones with more vents are better in the summer and less vents will make you more comfortable in winter.

7) Stay Strong

At some point, somebody is going to tell you that you are crazy for using a bike to get around. Keep in mind that they are the ones paying those shocking gas prices. You, on the other hand, are Doing Your Part by reducing your dependence on foreign oil and contributing less pollution to our planet.

 

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Do Your Part: Swap, Rent, and Share

There’s a fascinating new movement afoot – one that could ultimately create a wholesale change in how we, as consumers, get what we want.  It’s a business model being called “collaborative consumption” by the academics studying its every move and it’s also being heralded as a champion of the green movement. Here’s what it the idea boils down to: creating online frameworks that allow people to share, rent, and swap what they already own directly to other consumers. The possibilities of these person-to-person transactions are endless – from renting a house in San Francisco to swapping boxes of children’s clothes. This new way of resource sharing is an exciting example of how to Do Your Part to reduce massive amounts of waste and be thrifty all at the same time.

Just think of all the things that are sitting around your house that someone else would like to use. It could be as small as a box set of Sex and the City DVDs or as big as your actual house. New Internet based companies are changing how we think of these assets and how we can collaborate with others to get the most out of these items instead of always buying new, new, new.

I’ll start with some of the biggest examples of how this new collaborative consumption model works. If there’s a big event coming to your city, you might want to rent out your apartment or home. Or, you may have a vacation house that is vacant for much of the year. AirBnB.com is an easy to use hub for linking home owners with travelers who want anything from a one night getaway in New York City to a month long stay in a mountain cabin. The same goes for the car you own. RelayRides.com hooks up drivers in need with car owners. You can see what’s available where you are and check out the price per hour, day, and week. These are smaller examples of bigger success stories such as the ZipCar car sharing service, which allows thousands of drivers to access cars at any time across the country.

Now, back to those Sex and the City DVDs. Or, what about those games you no longer play, or that designer purse that’s gathering dust in the closet? Swap.com is one place to go to swap what you don’t want for something you do. Your options are absolutely endless.  And, anyone with children knows just how quickly kids outgrow clothes. ThredUp.com lets you earn credits for gently used clothing you no longer need. Then, use those credits to shop for the children’s clothing you do want.

These new business models also allow imaginations to run wild. For instance, one new online start-up, Yards to Gardens, allows gardeners and people with available land to connect and begin growing foods and flowers. There’s also a way to share gardening tools and swap seeds. Look below for a complete list of these and more swap, share, and rental sites.

Making more use of what we have, sharing our resources, and committing to less trash is an important way to Do Your Part. Utilizing technology to help make it happen also makes it easier than ever before.

Additional Resources:

Apartment and Home Rentals

Car Rentals

ZipCar.com

Swap Your Stuff

Kids’ Clothing Swap Site

Yards to Gardens

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Going Green Goes High Tech

We’ve all heard the excuses about going green – it’s too time consuming, too expensive, and just too difficult. Now, some high tech tools are making it downright easy to be energy efficient and save money. Do Your Part to find out which ones you can incorporate into your family’s life to make a powerful impact.

Knowledge Is Power

It takes a whole lot of energy to run a household. Consider your heating and cooling systems, appliances, and electronics. The average single-family household racks up more than $2,000 in energy bills each year. There are home electricity monitors that make it easy to see how much energy you use and what you spend on it. A device called The Energy Detective can monitor the energy your home consumes in real time and the exact amount it’s costing you. You can chart ten years worth of data and even review your information remotely. The basic model costs around $200. Then, there are free ways to help you see what’s using the most energy at home and help you target those hot spots. MyEnergy.com compiles your specific information directly from your utility companies and is able to compare your usage to that of some of your neighbors. You can also earn reward points for using less energy.

Hit The Energy Hogs

Now, that you know how much energy you’re really using at home, it’s time to hit those energy hogs and hit them hard. I recommend starting with making your heating and cooling systems more efficient. So-called “smart” thermostats are now available and are super easy to use. The Nest thermostat is one such device that actually learns from your family’s behavior. Soon after installation, it will automatically begin to lower or increase the temperature when you go to bed or leave the house. It even allows you to look at its daily energy use and access the thermostat from your computer or smartphone. There are also other intuitive devices to help you reduce your energy consumption at home. A power strip for sale by Belkin will shut down power going to a series of electronics by simply turning off one of the components. This is a great solution for home offices and entertainment centers.

Put It All Together

Then, there are high tech devices to help you put it all together. EnergyHub has a product that works as a command center for your home. You can access all your energy information in one place so you can control your thermostat, your lights, and appliances from a central home location or remotely. General Electric is also rolling out a hub system called the Nucleus that does the same thing and is compatible for homes with smart meters, too.

When you know how much energy your home is using, it’s easier to come up with strategies to lower your usage and lower your utility bills. It’s another important way to Do Your Part without wasting your energy.

Additional Resources:

Nest Thermostat

The Energy Detective

Energy Hub

GE’s Home Energy Manager


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Do Your Part: Don't Waste Food Scraps

I consider myself a pretty good gardener, a common sense “greenie”, and a person who does her best to reduce, reuse, and recycle. But, there’s something I must admit. For years now, I’ve resisted composting. It just seemed a bit too difficult and bit too time consuming. That’s all changed. And, if I can make it work, you can too. Let me help you Do Your Part to keep food scraps out of the garbage and turn them into something quite valuable.

Sitting on my kitchen counter right now is a cute, white composting pail I received from a good friend for Christmas. It has become one of my all-time favorite presents although the thoughtful gift giver doesn’t believe me. Anyway, having this pail right near the kitchen sink makes it downright difficult for me to “justify” scraping plates off in the trash or into the disposal.

Here’s the thing. Those little bits of food we so easily trash ultimately account for about a third of the garbage we send to the landfill. This is not only wasteful; it’s also bad for the planet. When bacteria in the landfill eat this type of organic waste, methane is produced, which is another powerful climate altering, greenhouse gas.

Composting your food scraps should not be complicated. In fact, over-thinking the process has been my problem in the past. And there isn’t only one way to make compost. You can designate a corner of your yard to a compost pile, you can buy a compost bin (available in a multitude of shapes and sizes), or you can even find electric units, which turn out a batch of compost every three weeks or so. Pick the system that’s best for you and you’re on your way to whipping up nutritious food for your plants and garden. And the best part is that this newly made fertilizer is absolutely free!

The key to any good composting system is to keep a balance of green and brown. Green waste is rich in nitrogen and can include most of your food waste and lawn clippings. The brown is carbon-rich items like branches, dried leaves, coffee filters, eggshells, or sawdust. It’s important to remember to have a little more carbon than nitrogen. Every so often, give it a stir to help the decomposition process. The one thing you don’t want to do is put meat or dairy products in an outdoor compost pile because it could attract animals.

When the compost is ready, use it to feed your garden plants, lawn, shrubs and trees.  And, as you’re spreading it all out, you will Do Your Part to keep all that food waste from truly going to waste.

Additional Resources:
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Concentrated Juices Will Save Money and Resources

Does your family go through several cartons of juice each month or dozens of juice boxes? The problem is that both can create a lot of waste. Instead, Do Your Part and buy concentrated juice.  You’ll create less trash and you’ll even save some money.

Concentrated juices simply mean that the water has been taken out. Then, you rehydrate it at home by adding a few cans of water.
So, one can can produce the same amount of juice as a much larger jug of juice. The concentrated varieties also take less energy to store and ship because they arrive without all the extra water.  And, its packaging is easily recyclable.

It’s also more economical. You’ll save about a nickel on ounce.  And that adds up.  If someone in your home drinks 12 ounces of juice a day – you’ll save more than 200 dollars a year. You’ll save even more if you swap out juice boxes for concentrated juice you can put into a reusable container. If your child uses one of these a day, you’ll save more than a hundred dollars a year. Plus, juice boxes a tricky to recycle and will be tossed into the trash at most schools.

Do Your Part when shopping for juice. You can go easy on the planet and your wallet by making a few better choices.

By |Food & Entertaining, Green Living, Kids, Save Money & Resources|2 Comments
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Do Your Part: Energy Efficient Upgrades Under $50

Do you cringe when your utility bills arrive during these cold winter months? You can Do Your Part to save a lot of money when you make a few energy efficient upgrades. Don’t worry; you won’t have to shell out a lot of money to make a big difference. Here are my ‘Top 7 Upgrades for Under $50’.

DIY Door Sweep
This is one of the quickest, cheapest, and easiest ways to save money instantly. A door sweep is something that attaches to the bottom of your door to keep the cold air out. For a couple bucks, you can attach a thin piece of rubber to the door base to do the trick. You can also find door sweeps that attach with screws or ones with self-stick adhesive.

Fireplace Fix
If your fireplace is more ornamental than functional, use a chimney plug to prevent warm air from rising right up and out of your house. These will usually cost you around $50 and take just minutes to install and inflate.

Lighten Up
Certain light bulbs can outlast traditional ones by ten times and others can save you 75% in lighting costs. Some energy efficient options include CFLs, LEDs, and halogen bulbs. Be warned, not all will work efficiently in every fixture. Go to the bottom of this post to see which bulb works best for your fixtures.

Program Your Thermostat
Investing in a programmable thermostat will help you slash your utility bills by roughly10%. You can use them to automatically adjust the temperature while you’re away so your heating system won’t run when you don’t need it to. You can also program it to lower the thermostat while you sleep.

Water Heater Blanket
This is one of the most inexpensive ways to make your conventional hot water heater run more efficiently. A hot water heater blanket will cost you around $20. It is super easy to put on and it helps keep the water inside the tank warm, which means the water heater won’t have to work as hard.

Power Strip Savings
Wasted power is becoming a big problem. Any thing with a remote, continuous display or a charging cord all sip power even when they are not in use. That can add up to a 10% increase in your power bill for electricity you’re not even using. Some of our electronics need power to remember programmed settings (DVR, alarm clock, etc.). All of the others should be plugged into a power strip with an on/off switch. This is the only way to truly cut the power to the others that don’t need continuous power.

Go Old School
Clothes dryers are one of the biggest energy hogs in any home. And don’t be fooled by ones that claim to be energy efficient. Dryers can’t even be Energy Star certified because they all use about the same amount of energy. To slash your utility bills, line dry your clothes. Even if you don’t have the room outside for a clothesline, there are plenty of new indoor drying rack options that will hold a complete load of clothes.

These small investments will bring big returns when it comes to your utility bills. Do Your Part and take a few minutes to make your house run more efficiently and economically.

Additional Resources:

Pick the Right Bulb

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Do Your Part: Don't Be Trashy This Season

That classic line from the Grinch about Christmas always tugs at my heart this time of year. It’s when he realizes the true meaning of the season, “How could it be so? It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes, or bags!” But here’s the thing – the holidays DO come with all those things and more. In fact, Americans create 25 percent more trash betweenThanksgiving and New Year’s Day than any other time of year. What kind of giftis that to our planet? It’s not a gift I want to give. From parties to presents, there are easy and economical ways to be less trashy this time of year.

Whether you’re hosting or attending a holiday party this year, there are smart ideas to cut down on the amount of trash. If you’re throwing this year’s bash and need extra serving dishes, glasses, or linens – consider renting them. It can be much more cost effective than you think and the best part is that you usually don’t have to wash any of it before it gets returned. Also, encourage guests to bring reusable containers to take home extra goodies. Think of how many trash bags you won’t be filling with “disposable” plates and cups – not to mention all that leftover food. If you’re attending a holiday party, put a little extra thought into what you bring your hosts. A bottle of wine in a reusable wine bag is the perfect gift. Or, you can think about a waste-free gift such as a gift certificate for a massage or a manicure.

When it comes to wrapping all your presents this year, get creative. Reusing leftoverwrapping paper and ribbons from last year is absolutely free. Other free options are old newspapers, construction paper from the kids, or even pretty tissue paper from previous gifts. Now what about those gift bags? I always brag to my friends that I will never buy a gift bag again. I save each one I receiveand reuse them throughout the holiday season and throughout the year. Just remember to not write the recipient’s name on the actual bag because then it’smuch harder to get more than one use out of it. Besides, gift bags can be pricey!

Another pricey tradition this time of year is holiday cards. Some people save each one they get in the mail but many folks simply toss them in the trash after the festivities are over. This year, try something new. Holiday e-cards are becoming much more common and they come without all the trash. There are a wide variety of online sites that will help you create the perfect card in anydesign you can imagine. Visit DoYourPart.com/Columns for some of my favoritee-card sites.

During the hustle and bustle of the season, you can save time and money with a few simple swaps that will also help you Do Your Part to create a whole lot less waste. Happy holidays!

Additional information

Click here to check out ‘Terri’s Top 5 E-Card Sites‘

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Hurry! Earn Tax Credits Before 2012

We’re in the season of shopping but don’t forget, this is also the time to make improvements to your home to make it more energy efficient. That’s because certain upgrades made in 2011 will earn you a federal tax credit. Some tax credits will be given for new insulation, roofs, HVAC units, water heaters, windows, doors, and more. For a complete list possible tax credits, click here.

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