How car heating and ventilation systems work Now on your iPhone and iPad! Over 250 detailed articles Instant access, no adverts, no internet needed Just $2.99 for a limited time. Read more essential guides The engine is the heart of your car. It is a complex machine built to convert heat from burning... Powered by your social love!Ever-rising energy costs and a growing awareness of environmental issues have inspired many of us to strive for "greener" living. From trading in our SUVs to replacing our incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents, we as consumers are taking important steps to reduce both our fuel bills and our carbon footprints. Of course, whether your primary motives are financial or ecological, some luxuries and modern conveniences are harder to relinquish than others. Changing a bulb is fairly painless, and driving to work in a compact car offers a tangible reward every time you fill up its much smaller tank at the gas pump.

But if you live anyplace where summer temperatures exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) for more than a day or two, you'd probably sooner give up the clothes on your back than turn off your air conditioning.how to pick the right size ac unit : Would You Rather?how to clean your home ac unit 10 Tips for Staying on Budgetbest brand of central ac units Can you penny pinch and still have fun? How much can you save by growing food at home? How much can you save by unplugging appliances? On some level, we all understand that running the A/C has an impact on our electric bills. How many parents have yelled "Close the door! The air conditioning is on!" before the kids are even halfway outside? But just how much do we spend to cool our homes?

Air conditioning costs vary greatly depending on the age and efficiency of the HVAC system and the size and location of the home, but a 2005 report by the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration found that air conditioning accounted for 16 percent of all household electricity consumption in the United States [source: Energy Information Administration]. And if you live in a particularly hot climate, A/C can account for 60 to 70 percent of your electric bill in the summer months [source: Austin Energy]. So what's a sweaty, frugal-minded and environmentally conscious citizen to do? Before you decide that your A/C is off-limits, remember that it doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. Read on to find out how much you can save by turning off the A/C -- or even setting the thermostat a few degrees higher.How Car Engines Work The engine in your car is one of the most amazing machines that you use in your day-to-day activities! Find out how it works!

Diesel Engines Work - Why do diesel engines get better mileage than How Horsepower Works - You see horsepower ratings on everything from your car to your lawn mower - Now you can understand what horsepower means! How Manual Transmissions Work - What is really happening inside the transmission as you move the shifter through that funny "H" pattern? How Differentials Work - Differentials are important in any vehicle, and they are incredibly interesting mechanical devices. Learn about both standard and different "limited slip" differential systems! How Clutches Work - Any car with a manual transmission has a clutch that connects/disconnects the engine and transmission. Learn how a normal automotive clutch works and explore a variety of other clutches! How Torque Converters Work - Torque converters are an essential part of any car that has an automatic transmission. Learn how torque converters work and see exactly what is going on inside!

How Air Conditioners Work - You see (and hear) air conditioners all around you. Now understand what they are doing! How Hybrid Cars Work - Hybrid cars offer great mileage and lower emissions; they combine different technologies to get the best of both worlds! Learn all about the secrets behind these amazing vehicles, plus two real-world examples! How Catalytic Converters Work - A catalytic converter is one of the most important parts of a car's emission control system, but it is incredibly simple! Learn how catalytic converters work! How Brakes Work - Your car's brakes are probably the most critical system on the vehicle -- if they go out, you have a major problem! Learn about this incredibly important component! How Bearings Work - Ball bearings and roller bearings are invisible heroes inside almost any mechanical object. They let motors and axles spin freely for years at a time! Learn about all different kinds of bearings,

including five-foot ball bearings that keep buildings on solid footing! How Disc Brakes Work - Disc brakes are the most common brakes to find on your car's front wheels, and are also fairly common in the rear. Learn all about disc brakes! How An Auto Air Bag Works - Learn the science behind the air bag, how the device works, what its problems are and where the technology goes from here! How Master Cylinders Work - The master cylinder provides the pressure that engages your brakes. Learn how the master cylinder works with the combination valve to provide reliable braking! How Champ Cars Work - Champ Cars have carbon fiber bodies, amazing 900 HP engines and top speeds of over 230 MPH! With the help of the Motorola PacWest Racing Team and CART, you can go behind the scenes to learn about the car, the team and the driver! How Pressure Gauges Work -Every time you use your little pen-shaped tire pressure gauge you wonder how it works.

How Air-Powered Cars Will Work - Air-powered cars have one huge advantage -- very low emissions! Learn how they will work! How Drum Brakes Work - Most cars today use drum brakes on the back two wheels or on all four wheels. Read this article for the complete scoop on drum brakes, plus some amazing graphics! Inside a Competition Tractor - We look inside a competition tractor at a tractor pull! How Tires Work - Tires have been in the news because of recent tire problems on cars and airplanes. Learn all about how tires are made and how their wear can affect your ride! How Power Brakes Work - Most cars today are equipped with power brakes to make stopping easier. Read this article if you've ever wondered how power brakes work - it's pretty amazing! How Fuel Processors Work - Fuel processors (or "reformers") are an essential part of most commercial fuel cells - since hydrogen gas is hard to store, fuel processing is where the hydrogen comes from!

Learn how fuel processors work and how efficient they really are! How Car Stuff Works Articles Could a car run on compressed air? How a Hydrogen-Boosted Gasoline Engine Works How Air-Powered Cars Will Work How Clean Diesel Fuel Works How does a hybrid car work? How E85 Ethanol Flex Fuel Works How Electric Cars Work How EPA Fuel-Economy Testing Works How Gas Prices Work How GM's Hy-wire Works How Hybrid Cars Work How Liquefied Petroleum Gas Works How Lithium-ion Batteries Work How much corn would I need to grow in order to produce enough ethanol fuel to... How much gasoline does the United States consume in one year? How Natural-gas Vehicles Work How the Ford Escape Hybrid Works How the Hydrogen Economy Works How the Tesla Roadster Works How to Buy a Fuel-efficient Car How to Choose Options for a Fuel-Efficient Car How to Compare Vehicle MPG How to Compare Vehicle Size, Weight, and Safety For Fuel Efficiency