Although buses are once again shuttling students to school, the sweltering summer heat still kicks on the air conditioning, draining more money from wallets. While it’s early in the school year for tests, there are three elementary steps to long-term energy savings and keeping more money in your wallet. Just seal, insulate, and equip to… Continue reading.

PRIORITIZE THE BASICS Begin with the basics, ensuring that students get nutritious meals, sufficient sleep, and physical activity. All of these are key to academic and social success. Studies show that children who eat a nutritious breakfast function better at school. Many children qualify for free or reduced-price food at school, including breakfast. The forms… Continue reading.

Taking the school bus Remind your child to wait for the bus to stop before approaching it from the curb. Kids should always board and exit the bus at locations that provide safe access to the bus or the school building. Make sure your child walks where they can see the bus driver, which means… Continue reading.

The long summer sunlight hours offer unique opportunities to spend time in the great outdoors. The sun can also inspire ideas — and even power activities — for families looking to have fun. More technology utilizes solar power, offering new tools and ideas for things to do. Families can spend time together with a variety… Continue reading.

Even when it’s blistering hot outside, sometimes you can crave a good hot meal — even when you finally get tired of grilling but loathe the idea of turning on the oven. There are some simple, practical things you can do to reduce the energy load and keep comfortable in your kitchen so you don’t… Continue reading.

Did you know that a ceiling fan could allow you to raise the thermostat setting without affecting your comfort? Fans create a wind-chill effect on your skin to make you feel cooler. Raising the temperature and using a fan can help you use less energy running your air conditioner. You may even be able to… Continue reading.

These strategies will help you save energy and keep costs down during the summer when the weather is warm and you are trying to keep your home cool. Use your windows to keep out heat Operate your thermostat efficiently Keep your cooling system running efficiently Consider a range of appliances and lighting options Keep hot… Continue reading.

With the hot, humid temperatures during the long daylight hours when kids are out of school, it may seem difficult to keep your cool at home this summer — literally and figuratively. Yet, in the literal sense, keeping your cool indoors could pay off by keeping more green in your wallet. Fortunately, there are steps… Continue reading.

Traveling is more fun and relaxing when you don’t have to worry about whether your home is safe and secure. Here are five ways to prevent mishaps and save energy during your absence. Create the illusion that someone is home. Ask a trusted neighbor to pick up newspapers, mail, and home deliveries that might arrive… Continue reading.

Before you depart, make sure you’re fully prepared for unexpected problems or emergencies. STOCK YOUR VEHICLE Even a well-maintained vehicle can break down, so it’s advisable to put together an emergency roadside kit to carry with you. A cell phone tops the list of suggested emergency kit contents since it allows you to call for… Continue reading.

Summer road trips can create ever-lasting memories. Make sure those memories are positive by checking for potential issues suggested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) before you start your journey. RECALLS NHTSA’s Recalls Look-up Tool lets you enter your vehicle identification number (VIN) to quickly learn if your vehicle has a critical safety… Continue reading.