It seems going green is all the rage these days, especially when the Nickelodeon Network’s “Kid’s Choice Awards” recognized actor Leonardo DiCaprio in 2010 for his green lifestyle, including costly eco-friendly renovations to his home and driving a Prius. But not everyone has that type of income so the vast majority of us must take advantage of low-tech ways to keep cool in the summer as we attempt to cut costs and help the environment.

One low-tech way is to wear clothes that are made of natural fabrics like cotton, hemp and linen. These fabrics breathe and keep moisture away from the body. Eating cool is another way (no, we don’t mean eating trendy foods while wearing the latest style sunglasses). Protein-rich meals are better when the weather is cold because they warm your body up. In the summer you should dine on sandwiches and salads instead. Staying hydrated is essential. Consuming alcohol and caffeine on a hot summer day actually promotes dehydration. On days like these you should drink more water than you usually do and electrolyte replacement drinks if you sweat a lot. Water is the key to cooling off. Soaking your feet in a tub of cold water, putting on a wet bandana and taking a cool shower are all ways to combat the heat. Save your old spray bottles, fill them with water and keep them in the refrigerator, spritzing yourself regularly throughout the day. Take refuge during peak hot hours in your basement or at air-conditioned buildings like the library or movie theaters.

There are also some low-tech steps you can take to lower costs around your house as well. One way is to use solar shades or roller shades which lets light shine through but blocks up to 80% of solar heat. Keep all your windows, curtains and blinds closed during the day. South facing windows get the most sun while east-facing windows get sun in the morning and west-facing get the hotter and stronger sun in the afternoon and evening. Open your windows for air circulation after the sun sets and the air cools down enough in the evening.

Avoid using appliances like irons, washers and dryers during the day. You could eliminate using your clothes dryer altogether by using a clothesline instead. It’s also a good idea to avoid running your appliances between 4 and 6 pm because it helps to prevent brownouts. Cooking outdoors allows you to give your stove and microwave a rest. But if you can, use your microwave rather than your stove because it uses two-thirds less energy. You could also use a toaster for baking because it’s smaller and won’t heat up a kitchen like a stove or oven does. In addition, you’ll cut your energy use in half. If you’re not using your computer, turn it off! Leaving a computer or any appliance running when they’re not in use generates a lot of heat. Unplugging them will reduce your electric bill too. The power these appliances use adds up over time, no matter how small. Make the switch from incandescent light bulbs to fluorescent light bulbs or halogen infrareds. And we can’t say enough about fans. Placing an inexpensive portable fan in front of an open window when it cools down outside, will bring cool air inside. Another way to bring outside air in is by installing an attic fan. Even if you have an air conditioner, ceiling and room fans help to circulate the air and allow you to set your thermostat higher. Finally, refrigerators that are full of food require less energy to stay cool because they don’t warm up as quickly when the door is opened.

Resources:
Save money in the summer with blinds st louis. Your checking account will be happy, and you’ll have more money to spend on the things that matter.

The post Saving Money in the Summer appeared first on General Article Directory.

However, with useful map- and directions-based websites such as MapQuest, you know longer have to rely on someone else’s verbal or handwritten directions, spending money on a physical map of the area, or your own foggy memory

Wondering how to go about using MapQuest? Here are some steps and tips for using this useful website:

Basic MapQuest Steps

Follow these basic steps to get started using MapQuest to help you locate addresses and/or find directions:

· Go online to the site. Alternatively, you can simply type in “mapquest” into your favorite search engine and click on the link in the search results.

· To locate an address, type in the address in the search box in the upper left-hand corner.

· Click the “Get Map” button, which will take you to the map of the location. Zoom in or out, as needed. You can choose to print the map, if you wish. “Print” is found in the top left-hand corner, above the address search box.

· To get directions, click on the link “Get Directions,” found underneath the search box.

· Type in the starting or origin address in the “A” field; type in the ending or destination address in the “B” field.

· Click on “Get Directions” after ensuring you have the correct starting and ending addresses. This will display the driving directions.

· Zoom in or out, as needed. You can choose to print the driving directions, if desired. Click on “Print,” which is found in the top left-hand corner, above the addresses you typed in.

Other Helpful MapQuest Tips

There is more you can do with MapQuest besides just following the basic steps to find and print out a location’s address or directions from Point A to Point B. Here are few more tips on using MapQuest and what else you can do with MapQuest:

· You don’t have to type in a specific address to use MapQuest; you can also enter businesses or public landmarks.

· Getting directions isn’t limited to just going from Point A to Point B. You have the option of adding additional stops in between. This is particularly useful for longer trips and road trips. Underneath the “B” button, you can click “Add Stop,” and “C” will show up. You can add as many stop points as you need until the trip is complete.

· MapQuest will display, below the addresses, the time (duration) of the trip as well as the distance in either miles or kilometers (see below for “Driving Options”).

· Click “Round Trip” (found beside “Add Stop”) to get round-trip directions and “Reverse” to get directions going back from the destination to the origin. “Driving Options” (found in the same section) lets you customize your directions (for example, choosing between miles and kilometers, and optimizing your route for shortest time or shortest distance).

· Below the “Print” button but above the “A” address button, you have the option of selecting either driving or walking directions (the car icon represents driving; the pedestrian icon, walking).

· Scroll down (on the left-hand side) to find a red pin. Beside the pin is the word “Save”-you can click on it to save the address or directions for future use..

Resources:
Camping and floating in Missouri is made easy with helpful directions and faster routes using Mapquest. Make sure you arrive on time and with precise directions so your kids won’t constantly ask “Are we there yet?”

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