Instead…

• Make your own ride as efficient as possible. If you drive a serious gas guzzler but you drive less than other folks you’re still gonna come out ahead. Make a goal to drive less, combine trips, and bus it or bike or (gasp) even walk more.
• Empty out the trunk. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that simply removing excess weight from your car can green your ride. For example, when you lose 100 pounds of gear your MPG improves by 2% – which adds up.
• SLOW DOWN! How super fast do you really need to get to the store anyhow?
• Keep your car properly maintained. Things like old oil filters, badly inflated tires, and other basic maintenance blunders will make your car less efficient and thus less eco-friendly.
• Carpool whenever possible.
• Buy cheap gas – which sounds bad but actually the higher the octane, the worse it is for the planet. Aromatics, otherwise known as harmful pollutants, are added to high octane gasoline.
• Use cruse control on the freeway.
• No matter the car you purchase, make sure it’s got a longer life rating that average. Long lasting = greener.

And of course, keep on saving up for your dream hybrid

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Conserve or Move… the fight against change by Hilary at eco friendly driver.

Consumer Reports tells you what they learned in Fuel economy: Save money on gas.

And here’s a video with a some great tips. For instance, I never thought about keeping the tank between half full and empty. The lower weight means better mileage. Of course, you might have to fill up for longer trips…

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in June 2008

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

I understand the annoyances of carpooling. Right now I work from home, but for a couple of years I carpooled to work with my husband. While it was fun to have someone share the driving with and to talk with on the ride in, I would sometimes get annoyed if he wasn’t ready to leave in the afternoon when I was. And perhaps that’s the biggest challenge in carpooling to work, finding someone who fits your schedule.

Carpooling doesn’t just apply to work though. Moms can group together to pick up kids from school. Of course, negotiating around extra-curricular activities can be the challenge with school.

Whatever the challenges, carpooling is worth it for the benefits to the environment and some personal benefits you may not have thought about.

If you can’t walk, take public transportation or a bike, carpooling is the next best thing. Here’s why:

• According to studies at the University of California, Irvine, you’re likely to have lower blood pressure and less stress if you carpool.

• Other studies have shown that a driver’s risk of death goes down by almost 8% when another passenger is in the car.

• Your travel time is cut by getting to use high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes.

• You save gas and reduce carbon emissions. Yay!

• There’s less traffic on the road, so everyone spends less time stuck in traffic (which means fewer emissions).

• Your car won’t need maintenance as often, and the warranty may last longer since you’ll be adding fewer miles.

• You may be able to share a parking space in a garage rather than each of you paying a monthly fee. (I don’t miss my monthly fee to park for work!)

Are those enough reasons to overcome any annoyances that may be associated with carpooling? Remember, it doesn’t hurt to try.

And it just so happens that fellow green blogger Allison over at Greener Assets has put together a fine list of carpooling resources — places to find your ride. Visit Green Your Travel: Carpooling for details.

Image via MorgueFile.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in May 2008

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Try to pick one or two main stores that have decent prices and always shop there. Preferably choose at least one store that carries both grocery and home items, and make sure they’re as close to your house as possible. I actually shop at two stores. One that carries groceries and home items plus some organic items, and another that carries all the organic and natural items that the first store doesn’t.

The first store I shop at carries food, home, office, electronics and more. Sometimes a few things are more expensive, I’d likely save a little if I shopped around, but I’d also waste gas and time. To me, saving fifty cents here and there isn’t worth it.

Well, that was actually two small steps. Shop at fewer stores and quit chasing sales. You’ll save resources, money, and time.

Where do you shop?  

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Jennifer H. at My Organized Biz is saving money and gas while lowering her carbon emissions with some creative planning ahead for her business routines. And she’s so organized, she wants to share the ideas with you too.

Stop by 6 Creative Ways to Save Cash and Gas for some extra gas-saving advice.

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