At a time when kilowatt counting may pass calorie counting as a favored American preoccupation, and the Emergency Energy Bill calls for a 25% cutback in power use, many people are wondering what they can do to help preserve the nation's energy, and save themselves some money. In fact, they can do much on the road and at home. Some guides:
THE CAR
Simply by keeping his auto tires properly inflated to reduce friction, a driver can save as much as 50 gal. of gas per year. Still another 75 gal. can be saved by keeping an engine in tune: ignition timed, carburetor checked, pollution-control valve cleaned, filters and spark plugs repaired or replaced.
The biggest savings, though, are to be won by resisting the lures of high horsepower. In a General Motors test, Buick Electras used 21% less gas at 50 m.p.h. than at 70 m.p.h. Smaller cars have saved as much as 30% by driving at 50 m.p.h. rather than 70 m.p.h. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the nation would conserve 2,100,000 bbl. of oil daily—more than the anticipated daily production of Alaska's North Slope—if the average weight of U.S. cars was reduced from 3,500 Ibs. to 2,500 Ibs. The EPA has also rated 1974 models for economy. The most efficient automobiles in some different weight categories:
2,000 Ibs. Average M.P.G
Honda Civic 29.1
Toyota Corolla1 Coupe 27.1
2,250 Ibs.
Datsun B210 manual transmission 24.9
Toyota Corolla2 Sedan 22.6
3,000 Ibs.
Chevrolet Vega Kammback 20.0
Ford Pinto Wagon 19.6
4,500 Ibs.
Chevrolet G20 Sportvan 12.4
AMC Matador SW 12.3
Mass transportation almost always burns less fuel and money than private travel; even a jet flight is often less expensive in terms of fuel use per passenger than a lengthy personal bout with the highways. A ten minute helicopter ride from New York's Wall Street to Kennedy Airport costs about $12; a 45-minute cab ride costs about $13. More amazingly, cabs in New York on the average use more, or as much fuel per passenger as helicopters.
THE HOUSE
In the home, very little energy is required to produce light; more is needed to power small appliances, and the most energy is demanded for heating and cooling. In fact, lighting is a relative bargain. Switching off four 100-watt bulbs before a three-hour trip to the movies saves less than 3¢.
The key to tallying electric consumption is the kilowatt hour, or kwh. —1,000 watts of electricity burned over one hour. The 1972 national average cost of a kwh. was 2.29¢. Deplorably, most utilities still encourage customers to burn more power by reducing the cost as they use more of it.
Last year the average U.S. household used some 8,000 kw-h., or more than thirteen times as much as in the 1930s. Contrary to much pop sociology, a proliferation of frivolous power gadgets is not to blame. An electric toothbrush uses only 0.5 kwh. of electricity per year, about a penny's worth. A carving knife costs about 18¢ per year, or 8 kw-h., a garbage disposer about 69¢, or 30 kwh. per year. Because they are expressly engineered for specific functions, the new electric griddles, fry pans, toasters and coffeemakers are more efficient and economical than a standard gas or electric stove.