I Wish Cars Were Fueled by Kindness

Wouldn't it be nice if cars just magically drove for people who are kind? It would be the best of both world's. Gasoline would no longer be necessary and the world would be a better place...

What a dream. But, if you're like me and have an hour commute to work, you're still looking for ways to save money on gas despite the recent decrease in price.

Here is a list of simple things you can do to make your gas get you as far as possible:

Drive Sensibly: Not only is erratic and aggressive driving dangerous for yourself and others on the road, but it wastes gas too! Reckless driving habits such as speeding, rapid acceleration and braking can decrease gas mileage by up to 33% on highways and 5% on local roadways.

Observe the Speed Limit: Speed limits were put into place to keep drivers safe, but did you know that obeying these posted limits can also help you save gas? While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy level at a different speed, most begin to decrease after 60 mph. Think of it this way: for every 5 mph you travel over 60 mph, you are spending an additional $0.25 per gallon on gas.

Remove Excess Weight: Keeping your vehicle as light as possible is another way to improve gas mileage. An extra 100 pounds inside your vehicle can decrease its gas mileage efficiency by up to 2%. The added weight adds pressure to your tires, requiring more gas to move your vehicle.

Avoid Excess Idling: Not only is excess idling bad for the environment, but it's bad for your gas mileage. When you idle, you are getting zero miles per gallon of gas. What a waste! It's also notable that cars with larger engines typically use more gas when idling than smaller ones.

Use Cruise Control: When it is safe to do so, using the cruise control feature when traveling on the highway or long rural roads can help you save gas. Cruise control helps you maintain a constant speed, thereby reducing the stress on your vehicle and its gears, saving you gas.

Maintain Your Tires: You can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3% just by keeping your tires properly inflated. Properly inflated tires can distribute the weight of your vehicle most efficiently, requiring less gas. Tires are also safer when properly maintained and can last longer.

Use the Recommended Grade of Motor Oil: Your gas mileage can improve by 1-2% just for servicing your car with the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. You can find this information inside your owner's manual or by searching your car model online. Does your owner's manual suggest 10W-30 motor oil but you've been using 5W-30? You are cheating your vehicle out of gas efficiency by 1-2%.

Plan Trips Accordingly: Planning to take a trip this summer? Plan your travel time and route to allow you the shortest, most direct path to your destination during the least traffic congestion. Also consider how you are going to pack. Using a roof rack? A loaded roof rack can decrease gas mileage by 5%.

Billy Higgins is Brownstone's Facebook Fan of the Week

Not only is Mr. Higgins a fan of Brownstone Insurance on Facebook, he is what we like to call a "Brownstone broker." Billy has been working with Brownstone Insurance for 17 years and here is what we had to say about working with us:

"Brownstone, to me, is a feeling you get. It's relief and excitement rolled into one. When you hear terms like, 'a day at the beach,' 'a walk in the park,' or 'a piece of cake,' that's a Brownstone moment. The word Brownstone has replaced those sayings. When I present my Brownstone quote, I feel like Robin Hood. Seeing the disbelief in the insured's face and being able to say, "Yes, this is really the quote," is a feeling you want every time you present a quote. When you have something truly special, that is how people react."
                                                                                             - Billy Higgins

If you'd like the chance to be our next official "Fan of the Week," contact Marketing Coordinator, Beth Lowe and tell her why you love Brownstone Insurance!

And don't forget to "like" Brownstone on Facebook!                                                                                                                                            

Brownstone Insurance Blog is Recognized by Insurance Peers

Here at Brownstone Insurance, we aim to connect with our customers by being available where they are (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn etc.) and to provide information that can better the lives of customers and non-customers alike.

We provide this level of customer service because insurance is an important thing to have, but is generally thought of as "boring" or is not given much thought at all. Changing the landscape of how insurance companies connect with their customers is important to Brownstone Insurance; we don't provide this service for accolades.

But every once in a while, it's nice to have our efforts recognized and this is one of those times.

The Brownstone Insurance blog and marketing efforts were recently recognized in a piece by Ryan Hanley, a New York State-licensed property-casualty, life and health insurance agent for The Murray Group which serves all of the Albany / Capital Region and New York Tech Valley. Mr. Hanley also spear heads the Albany Insurance Professional blog and is a catalyst of change, inspiring insurance professionals to connect with their customers on a more personal level. You might remember his Guest Blog Post for the month of February here on the Brownstone blog!

Read Ryan Hanley's praise of Brownstone in his latest blog post here.

Severe Weather Hits Massachusetts

Yesterday's tornadoes, hail storms and lightning storms serve as a reminder that Massachusetts and surrounding states are susceptible to severe weather.

Communities in Westfield, Springfield, Sturbridge, Douglas and surrounding towns were pounded by strong winds, hail storms, severe thunder and lightning and in some unfortunate cases, tornadoes. Preliminary reports indicate that 2 people were killed in Westfield, a third in Springfield and a fourth in Brimfield according to Governor Deval Patrick. Dozens more were injured and several people, including children, are still missing.

Communities in other areas of the state were also affected by the outbreak of storms. New Bedford saw hail the size of golf balls early in the day, while towns on the South Shore saw strong winds and power outages.

If your property was affected by yesterday's severe weather and you have a claim to report, contact our office by calling (617) 236-6400 and check out our blog entries related to emergency preparedness.

A Blast from the Past

Glenn MontgomeryTake a peek at this old photo one of our employees came across!

Pictured here is Glenn Montgomery, Vice President and co-founder of Brownstone Insurance and Murphy & Jordan Insurance Agency, circa 1985 in the original Brownstone Insurance office on Milk Street in Boston.