Posted on February 25th, 2008
Idling your car for more than ten seconds uses more fuel than stopping and restarting the engine. Idling also sends unnecessary emissions into the air contributing to both pollution and health problems. Running a non-moving vehicle for 10 minutes a day uses an average of about 22 gallons of gas per year. Since each gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, the potential to reduce your contribution is huge! With gas prices climbing, saving 22 gallons/year makes economical and ecological sense. Need another incentive? Excessive idling can actually damage the engine and decrease fuel-efficiency. Whether it’s to heat your car before your commute or you’re just hitting the drive-thru, ...
Posted on February 9th, 2008
Yes, the juice you're already crankin' out thanks to the undulating energy resource provided by your car's gas-powered alternator, that is. That nifty little cigarette lighter you no longer use to flame up tasty Newports (because you quit smoking, right?) is now a handy cell phone or iPod charger, sparing your wall outlets from the energy hogging task. Unplug those outlets when not in use, by the way. They don't stop sucking just because nothing's plugged into 'em.
Thanks to Winston Ross for suggesting this tip!
Posted on February 8th, 2008
We all know how salt wreaks havoc on our cars, bicycles, and shoes every winter, and its impact on the environment is every bit as corrosive. Can you believe that we’ve changed the pH of the Great Lakes by salting our roads and sidewalks? To reduce your environmental footprint, skip the salt and spare your local ecosystem. Instead opt for a green de-icer, like Enviromelt, which contains no salts or chlorides. Or better yet, try making your own! See December’s Recipe of the Month for an easy and environmentally friendly fix to slippery sidewalks.
Posted on January 16th, 2008
If your Holiday bonus is burning a hole in your pocket or you’re just in the market for a new ride, consider purchasing a vehicle that uses alternative fuel or hybrid energy. There's no denying that cars are tough on the environment, but green cars can help reduce that effect through better fuel economy and lower emissions. A green car is a vehicle that is considered to be environmentally friendly and have less of a damaging impact on the environment as conventional cars. A green car consumes less gas than conventional cars or use renewable energy sources to fuel its engine. There are a number of green cars available today, including electric cars, hybrid cars and diesel ...
Posted on January 13th, 2008
Our lives are full of toxic substances, so any opportunity to reduce that number is welcome. The next time your car gets a tune-up, ask for (or buy it yourself) antifreeze made from propylene glycol instead of the usual ethylene glycol. As compared to ethylene glycol, propylene glycol is less toxic and safer for children, pets, and wildlife in the environment. There are many examples of wildlife harmed by ethylene glycol antifreeze which had been spilled, leaked, or carelessly disposed of. Proper disposal of all antifreeze is important, but when given the choice, choose the non-toxic (still not for human consumption) Propylene glycol for your car.
Photograph by Jesse Hove.
Posted on January 9th, 2008
It’s a new year – a great time for scheduling doctor’s visits, teeth cleanings and other annual appointments. As you plan ahead, don’t forget your car! Keeping your car tuned up will help it operate better and can even reduce its negative effect on the environment and increase its fuel economy. Be sure also to check for worn spark plugs, dragging brakes, and low transmission fluid; have your wheels aligned and tires rotated; and replace the air filter if needed. Don’t forget to make sure all used vehicle fluids are recycled or disposed of safely! A yearly check-up is good for you, good for your car and good for the planet.
Posted on December 12th, 2007
Idling your car for more than ten seconds uses more fuel than stopping and restarting the engine. Idling also sends unnecessary emissions into the air contributing to both pollution and health problems. Running a non-moving vehicle for 10 minutes a day uses an average of about 22 gallons of gas per year. Since each gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, the potential to reduce your contribution is huge! With gas prices climbing, saving 22 gallons/year makes economical and ecological sense. Whether it’s to heat your car before your commute or you’re just hitting the drive-thru, try to keep idling to a minimum.
Photograph by Jesse Hove
Posted on December 4th, 2007
We know you are all safe drivers - so here's a tip to make your city driving a bit greener: When you see a yellow or red light up ahead, take your foot off the gas and coast to the stop. All those extra smashes of the gas pedal add up - on your gas tank, your wallet, and the environment.
Posted on November 26th, 2007
Next time you take your food to go, consider bringing along your own reuseable containers rather than using and disposing of new ones every visit. 17% of the average fast food restaurant’s waste consists of take away materials. This amount of waste is an obvious environmental concern but so is the effort it takes to make the products in the first place. Napkins, paper wraps and paper bags stem from intense logging which leads to soil compaction and erosion, degradation of wildlife habitats and sedimentation of water bodies. Paper production requires the use of toxic chemicals and damaging particulate matter often discharged into water bodies. The production of plastic containers and utensils involves ...
Posted on October 14th, 2007
Keeping your tires properly inflated is one of easiest things you can do to help the Environment and yourself. Low tire pressure means you use more gas and ruin more tires. Proper inflation can improve gas mileage by more than 3% and since every gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, every increase in fuel efficiency makes a difference. Under-inflation of the tire by 10% also increases the tire's wear rate by 5%, which means more tires hitting the junkyard sooner. Help yourself and the Earth by checking your tire pressure once a month.
