Boost your gas mileage this summer

I saw some good info in the Small Change column in the Washington Post today. Writer Nancy Trejos lists nine tips that will have you Maximizing Your Mileage During Road-Trip Season.

They're all simple things that can add up: Keep your car tuned up, don't speed, keep your tires inflated to the correct pressure, etc.

I'll add one not on the list: Using cruise control on the highway can improve your gas mileage. When I do this with my Prius, I can watch the mpg readout rise steadily.

All of this car talk reminds me that it's time to schedule an oil change!

Do you get the most mpg out of your car? Post here!

DC company will pay you to reduce your energy use

The Post's Small Change blog has an item today about Earth Aid Enterprises, a two-year-old DC company that will pay you if you reduce your household's energy use.

When you reduce your home energy use (electricity, natural gas), you're also lowering your carbon footprint. Earth Aid bundles these carbon reductions and sells them to companies that want to buy carbon offsets. Earth Aid then pays homeowners for their energy savings, minus a brokerage fee.

It sounds pretty cool. The service is free and if you don't reduce your energy use, you don't pay a penalty. No hidden costs, according to the Earth Aid site. What's not to like? (You'll have to register on the Earth Aid site, then they'll track your energy use through your utility company. They'll even send you tips on how to save energy -- and money.)