Success Stories - Personal

Anna M. – Fresno

• Our elderly dog can no longer walk to the park but still begs for walks so we were driving him to the park for his outdoor time. Our HAL change: we bought a "dog stroller" for him and now we all walk to the park – no more driving. He loves being a Healthy Air Living dog!
• We use electric lawn equipment, CFL lightbulbs, run the AC less, bought an Energy Star-certified home and have all Energy Star appliances.
• I pack a lunch so I don't have to drive to get one and trip link when traveling for errands.

Bob G.­ – Bakersfield

• I ride my electric bike to the office 2-3 days a week. Solar panels provide the juice to charge the batteries, making it a zero-emissions vehicle. We also drive a hybrid.
• No more bottled water at our house, nor paper plates or cups. We use canvas bags for groceries and recycle.

Cari L. – Bakersfield

• My husband and I both bring our lunch to work daily, trip-link to reduce vehicle miles traveled and shop online. We carpool 4-5 days a week with two others.
• We take advantage of services offered at our worksite, such as making photocopies and cash advances (rather than visiting the ATM).
• We purchased an energy-efficient home and use reusable cloth shopping bags.

Dante S. – Fresno

• I got inspired by seeing others ride to work when I first started working. I bought a bike and now I’m hooked! My daily commute is 15-20 miles and I have saved hundreds of dollars of gas per year and now I’m training for a century ride (100 miles).
• I refuse to use plastic bags at the grocery store and usually carry my groceries in my messenger bag.
• I collect my department’s recyclables and take them to a local recycling facility. We use the funds to purchase food at meetings.

Denise H., Bakersfield

• I have driven my car less than 500 miles this year. Last year, I used a total three tanks of gas. I commute by bike to work and for almost all other errands.
• I vacation by bike touring and carpool to get there.
• I am working the math for going "car free” and have successfully encouraged four friends to consistently bike instead of drive for errands and going out.
• I remodeled my house using recycled materials. For instance, I built gates out of my old fence.

Jim W. – Clovis

• Our last car purchase was a PZEV, or Partial Zero Emission Vehicle.
• We trip link to church, lunch and shopping.
• We carpool and almost never use drive thrus.

Jo D. – Bakersfield

• We trip link as much as possible. I always tell my kids that it’s more Healthy Air Living to do things such and such a way. Like when my 17 year old asks to take the car to school, I tell her it's more Healthy Air Living if she takes the bus.

Jon K. – Fresno

• I carpool to work and also use a push mower on my lawn.

Justine J. – Bakersfield

• I’ve traded in an older gas mower for an electric one.
• We air dry our dishes instead of using the dishwasher drying option.

Rob R. – Bakersfield

• How do three people with slightly different schedules carpool? We’ve worked it out so that we manage to ride together 10 times every two-week pay period.
• Other times I’ll catch a ride with another carpooler. I call it Rideshare Roulette since many times I’m not sure who I’m riding home with that day! Ridesharing this way has been fun and interesting.

Sheri B. – Fresno

• We upgraded all kitchen and laundry appliances to high-efficiency, low water use models.
• We save about 75% in electrical costs from a new pool pump that replaced one from the late ‘80s. Much of the garden lighting is solar.
• We love the hybrid we’ve owned since 2004 and recently purchased a new one. Our other car is an ultra-low emission vehicle and all lawn equipment is electric.

Steve L. – Bakersfield

• I bring lunch to work instead of going home.
• We trip link our errands to reduce the amount of miles we drive.
• I use an electric lawn edger, chain saw and blower at home.
• Replaced incandescent outside lighting, including spotlights, with CFLs.
• Replaced bath lighting with low wattage fluorescent fixtures.

Suzanne M. – Clovis

• We recently became the proud owners of a solar energy system!

Tom B. – Modesto

• I carpool 10 miles per day with a co-worker and occasionally bike to work.
• Solar panels provide all my home electric.
• I do not use drive through lanes and have purchased some electric lawn equipment.