- In Your Automobile

Observe the Speed Limit

While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed, gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.21 per gallon for gas. Observing the speed limit is also safer.

Remove Excess Weight

Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2%.

Avoid Excessive Idling

Idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than do cars with smaller engines.

Use Cruise Control

Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.

The typical U.S. family spends close to $1,500 a year on home utility bills. Unfortunately, a large portion of that energy is wasted. By making a few small changes, you can reduce your energy costs by 10% to 50%, and, at the same time, help reduce air pollution and dependence on foreign fuel imports.

HEATING AND COOLING

- Set your thermostat comfortably low in the winter and comfortably high in the summer.

- Keep warm-air registers clean and unblocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.

- Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed.

- Turn off kitchen or bath exhaust fans after 20 minutes when possible.

WATER

- Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120° F.

- Place the kitchen faucet lever in the cold position when using small amounts of water. Placing the lever in the hot position uses energy to heat the water even though it may never reach the faucet.

APPLICANCES

- Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle.

- Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.

- Wash your clothes in cold water using cold-water detergents whenever possible.

- Don't keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold.

- Cover liquids and wrap foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.

ELECTRONICS

- Screensavers do not save energy--sleep or powersave mode does.

LIGHTING

- Use fluorescent lamps instead of standard bulbs-they are more efficient and last up to ten times longer.

- Use task lighting; instead of brightly lighting an entire room, to focus the light where you need it.

WINTERTIME TIPS

- Install exterior or interior storm windows-they can reduce heat loss through windows by as much as 50%

Congresswoman Bean believes we need a new energy policy that reduces our dependence on foreign oil and improves the quality of our air. That is why she has supported legislation and other initiatives in Congress that would do the following:

Environmental Protection

*Banned Oil Drilling in Lake Michigan

*Held MTBE polluters accountable for contaminating ground water

*Banned Oil Drilling in ANWR

*Improved incentives for flexible fuel and higher-efficiency vehicles

Investing in Alternative Energy

* Extends incentives for renewable energy production

* Extends existing manufacturing incentives for alternative fueled vehicles,

* Establishes a hydrogen fuel program that includes research, development, and deployment incentives for advanced technologies vehicles.

* The Clean Energy Bonds Act: Provides a tax credit for individuals who purchase bonds invested in developing energy from renewable resources like wind, solar energy, and biomass.

Ethanol and Motor Fuels

* Expands the size of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to provide the U.S. with greater control of energy prices during shortages or emergencies

* Establishes a broader ethanol credit program that encourages greater ethanol use

* Limits the number of boutique fuels, both nationally and on a regional basis

*The Alternative Fuel Utilization and Infrastructure Development Incentives Act promotes the use of E-85 gasoline, a clean alternative motor fuel made from 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, with a retail sale tax credit of 35 cents per gallon passed along to the consumer in the form of a lower pump price.

Conservation

* Raises energy efficiency standards for large appliances

* Improves low-income home energy assistance, including efficiency improvements

*Strengthens enforcement of existing Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards.

* Strengthens the ENERGY STAR program, a partnerships of 8,000 private and public sector organizations working to improve energy efficiency. The program is expected to reduce energy bills for many homeowners and businesses by up to 30 percent and eliminate more than 7 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

Consumer Protection

* Establishes an independent organization to improve the reliability of the transmission grid through mandatory and enforceable standards

* Authorizes federal regulators to punish manipulation of electricity markets, requires greater transparency in the natural gas market and imposes higher penalties on energy companies that violate these rules.

*Congressman Bean supports the H. Wilson anti-price gouging bill