Keep Summer Fuel Costs From Burning Your Budget

Memorial Day Weekend unofficially marks the start of summer, with hotter days and family road trips following close behind. Because the costs of cooling your home and filling up your car can add up, the Federal Trade Commission is offering tips to save you money.

Saving Starts @ Home: The Insider Story on Conserving Energy, available at www.ftc.gov/energysavings, offers energy conservation tips to help consumers save money in every room of the house. For example, for the attic, the FTC explains the ABCs of insulation. Among other tips for the kitchen, consumers find advice on using the newly redesigned EnergyGuide labels available for all appliances. At www.ftc.gov/savegas, consumers can find tips for improving fuel efficiency from bumper to bumper on a car. For example, in the trunk, the FTC advises that an extra 100 pounds of weight can reduce fuel economy by up to 2 percent. Under the hood, replacing clogged air filters can increase gas mileage up to 10 percent. Both sites are also offered in Spanish, at www.ftc.gov/ahorraenergia and www.ftc.gov/ahorregasolina.