¡Podemos ahorrar cientos de dólares en gasolina!

La Alianza para Ahorrar Energía, organización sin fines de lucro que promueve el uso eficiente de los recursos energéticos, lanza una campaña innovadora que le da acceso a la comunidad hispana a increíbles herramientas diseñadas para ahorrar cientos de dólares en gasolina. La campaña llega a la comunidad hispana a través de un sitio de Internet, teléfonos celulares y la radio, brindando a los conductores consejos útiles y fáciles para ahorrar dinero. "Manejando y Ahorrando, ¡El Reto!" cuenta con un sitio de Internet,

www.manejandoyahorrando.org donde se encuentran los 'tips' o consejos útiles para ahorrar gasolina y donde está también el 'Drive Smarter Challenge' o Reto del Conductor Inteligente,  tomándolo podrá descubrir fácilmente como ahorrar cientos de dólares en gasolina de acuerdo al modelo, la cantidad de cilindros y el año de su automóvil.

Por ejemplo, asegurarse de que las llantas estén infladas correctamente, desocupar la cajuela de objetos inservibles o evitar conducir agresivamente,  son hábitos que disminuyen considerablemente la cantidad de combustible que usa nuestro vehículo.

"Esta información puede reducir en cientos de dólares al año los enormes  costos de la gasolina ya que los presupuestos familiares se están viendo afectados por los altos precios de la gasolina", dijo la presidenta de la  Alianza Kateri Callahan.

Gracias a Manejando y Ahorrando los conductores tienen, además, acceso gratuito a un divertido reguetón para recordar musicalmente que sí es posible ahorrar gasolina y que podrán usar como 'ringtone' en su teléfono celular, en el que recibirán también 'tips' semanales como mensaje de texto.

Para recibir estos beneficios, atreverse a asumir el reto y ahorrar dinero en gasolina, deben visitar www.manejandoyahorrando.org.

Además, mandando un mensaje de texto al 52733 con la clave "gas" los  usuarios podrán bajar, gratuitamente, el 'ringtone' de la campaña.

La radio es la mejor compañera de los conductores, por eso, la campaña ha distribuido una serie de Anuncios de Servicio Público en más de 500 emisoras hispanas de todo el país, llamando -- con mucho humor - la atención de los hispanos, sobre la importancia de asumir el reto, conducir inteligentemente y ahorrar dinero.

El apoyo financiero de la Fundación Wal-Mart y la cooperación de 16  diversas organizaciones han hecho posible que la Alianza para Ahorrar Energía pueda hacer realidad esta campaña con La Red Hispana.

FUENTE Alianza para Ahorrar Energía. ∆

Tips To Help You Recycle Plastic Bags

(NAPSA)-Here's encouraging  news for anyone who wants to protect the environment. Plastic bag recycling has increased significantly, and there are easy steps you can take to contribute to this important trend.  

Over 800 million pounds of postconsumer plastic bags and film were recovered in 2006-a 24 percent increase from 2005, according to the National Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic Bags and Film Report.  

Plastic bags are an extremely resource-efficient disposable bag choice, requiring about 70 percent less energy and generating 50 percent less greenhouse gas emissions to manufacture than paper bags-and it is easy to recycle them as more and more stores across the country offer recycling programs.  

Many grocers and retailers now offer drop-off programs that allow consumers to return their used bags to be recycled. Participating stores typically place plastic bag collection bins at the store entrance or near checkout areas.  

Here are a few do's and don'ts on recycling plastic bags:

• Do recycle plastic grocery and retail bags, newspaper bags, dry cleaning bags, plastic wrap from products like paper towels and toilet paper, and all clean bags labeled with recycling code #2 (HDPE) or #4 (LLDPE).

• Do make sure bags are clean and dry.

• Do remember to remove receipts.

• Do store plastic bags safely away from small children.

• Don't recycle food wrap or bags that contain food residue.

• Don't include other types of bags.  

The increase in plastic bag recycling is expected to continue, thanks to greater availability of at-store recycling opportunities. Recycling mandates in states such as California and cities such as New York and Chicago will help to fuel continued recycling growth.  

Plastic bags can be made into dozens of useful new items, such as building and construction products, low-maintenance decks and fences and, of course, new bags.  

Demand for the material is high and in most areas exceeds the available supply because many people are not aware that collection programs are available.  

Recycling plastic bags is easier than ever. In addition to at-store drop-off programs, the number of municipal drop-off centers and curbside recycling programs is also increasing. For more information on opportunities to recycle plastic bags in your state, visit www.plasticbagrecycling.org.  

The demand for recycled plastic is high, making plastic an extremely resource-efficient bag choice.

Green Is The New "It" Color

Reduce, Recycle and Reuse with These Expert Tips

(NAPSA)-Environmental issues are on the minds of most Americans, and from the halls of Congress to Main Street, U.S.A., people are looking for ways to reduce, recycle and reuse materials to lessen their negative impact on the environment.

"We are all learning to do things differently to reduce energy, consume fewer resources and make a positive impact on our environment," said Jackie Cooper, director of marketing communications for Eureka(r). "This mind set begins at home, where we can make great strides to be 'greener,' especially when it comes to cleaning."

One way to reduce energy consumption is to seek cleaning products that require less energy to operate but provide the same power to get the job done. Eureka recently launched an eco-friendlier upright vacuum, the envirovac(tm), which features an 8-amp motor and, therefore, uses 33 percent less energy to operate than a standard upright vacuum featuring a 12-amp motor.

The average American household vacuums about one hour per week using a 12-amp motor. If only a quarter of the 100 million households in the U.S. used envirovac, 6.25 million kilowatt-hours of energy would be saved and the annual reduction in harmful CO2 emissions would be equivalent to keeping 855 cars off the road for a full year.*

By reusing and recycling materials and by being conscious of product ingredients and packaging, consumers can be "greener" cleaners all the time. Here are some additional tips:

•               Use natural cleaners as much as possible-products like vinegar, lemon juice and baking soda go a long way to remove odors, lift stains and clean without scratching surfaces.

•               Look for products that use natural ingredients to remove odors. For example, Arm & Hammer(r) baking soda is used in a number of environmentally friendlier vacuum bags and filters.

•               Instead of using paper towels to clean glass surfaces, try newspaper. It's made from recycled materials, you can recycle it again and it won't leave streaks.

•               Use old clothing as rags. This is a great way to repurpose something and then use it again and again. Be sure to wash with cold water to save the washing machine some energy!

•               Seek products packaged in recycled materials. The envirovac, for example, is boxed in 100 percent recycled cardboard, and many product manufacturers are reducing excess packaging and using eco-friendlier materials.

"There are many great resources on the Web for information about eco-friendlier cleaning practices," said Cooper.

For some additional tips and information on the envirovac, please visit www.vacuumgreen.com.

*All energy usage and emissions statistics gathered from EIA (2002) a. Annual Energy Review 2001. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy.