19 Jan 2015

Are you warming your car before driving? You could be fined.

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

If you are on a car trip in a northern state, know that you should NOT warm your car. For, the process of warming cars increases gas waste, which increases oil dependency and pollution.

Learn to drive before 1990? You have some un-learning to do

It is now a myth that a warm and running vehicle is better to drive than one from a cold start. If you started driving in the 1980's and before, you were trained to warm your car in the winter, as your car's carburetor could easily stall if you didn't. However, all cars since the early 1990's now have fuel injection - so there is no need to worry about stalling.

In fact - you could get a ticket

And - another reason to NOT warm up your car: many jurisdictions have laws against idling cars. For example, the Minneapolis Anti-Idling Vehicle Ordinance states that you can not idle your car for more than 3 minutes in a one hour period, and if you do - you could be fined $200 - yikes!

Read the full articles here:
The biggest winter energy myth: That you need to idle your car before driving

Minneapolis Anti-Idling Vehicle Ordinance

Travel Tips

Caution: 3-4 star hotels charge for WiFi

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

When you stay in a 2-star hotel, you get free WI-FI. However, the further up the "stars" you go, the higher chance that you will have to pay $30/day (and more) for WI-FI!

11 Dec 2014

Why don't more hotels have "convenience stores"?

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

Basically, as the company Airbnb expands to new cities around the world, the share economy is really taking their toll on regular hotels. Executives have figured a way around this with lend and lease programs all around the country with critical ads like “Forgot it?

9 Dec 2014

Do you take hotel shampoo, soap, etc? You aren't the only one.

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

Many hotel guests admit to taking the mini hotel toiletries home with them when they checkout. Many guests find creative ways to use these toiletries once they return home. Many hotel guests report that they actually love the mini hotel toiletries and admit to liking them so much that they take them home.

9 Dec 2014

Is re-using your towel at a hotel helpting the planet - or profits?

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

Many hotels use green energy marketing strategies which are designed to save the environment. Most hotel guests are not interested in the strategies that are used, such as reusing towels. Starwood Hotels has implemented a program that guests find useful which offers discount vouchers to customers who refuse room cleaning, which saves water and energy.