Here’s one more thing you can to do make the most out of your mug of Joe in the morning (and yes, we do mean mug.): skip that plastic stirring device. Those little straws are only so great for about 8 seconds – and then they typically get discarded. Multiply this by the activities of thousands of caffeine junkies every morning and that’s a lot of plastic.

There are ways to get your mix in your fix without the additional use of plastic. In fact, our green friend Angie let us in on her little stirring secret when she wrote us. “To make my entire coffee experience plastic free I have found a way to put in my creamer and get it evenly distributed without the use of a plastic stir stick. I pour 3/4 cup coffee, then add creamer and top off the cup with additional joe which acts as a natural stirrer. I suppose I could just pour my cream in before I put in any coffee but somehow I always over cream if I do it that way. I have shared my little trick with my friend Amy and we have been stir stick free for weeks!”

Now that’s the way to go for Joe!

If being green was a class in school, the first lesson would probably be, “don’t litter”, right? We all know that it’s not good to litter, but have you ever thought about why? Trash improperly disposed of can hurt people and animals. Litter can be very dirty. Not only does it not look nice but, it may carry germs. There are some animals that are scavengers who are attracted to areas with lots of litter. They find their food among the trash and can pick up the germs and become carriers for diseases that may make people sick. When litter is on sidewalks or along curbs, it may get washed down in to storm drains during a heavy rain. Eventually this water leads to the nearest river or ocean. Animals may mistake the items of litter floating in the water as food and could choke on them. Even if the animals don’t try to eat the litter, they may get entangled in it. It is estimated that every year over 1 million seabirds and 100,000 turtles and sea mammals die as a result of eating litter or by getting tangled up in plastic fishing nets and lines. In addition to the harmful effects on people and animals, litter is gross! Trash looks ugly and when it decomposes in the elements it smells bad. While most places have laws against littering, busts are few and far between. Do your part by keeping garbage where it belongs: in the trash.

It’s car wash season! While you might think a carwash outside in your driveway can be a fun activity (especially since you can pretend you’re in a music video), we’re here to tell you (sadly enough) that washing your car in your driveway is actually one of the most environmentally unfriendly chores you can do. You will use 80 – 140 gallons of water and after it hits your grease-oil-infused driveway, it will probably run straight into the storm drains without being treated in a sewage center. Where does it go then? To rivers, creeks, wetlands, and other natural habitats where it will kick nature to the curb. The alternative? Go to a commercial car wash. Not only do most commercial car washes use less than 45 gallons per car, but many also recycle and reuse the rinse water. The water will be sewage treated, not dumped.

Considering ditching your car for good, but worry about the occasional trips where bags of groceries outweight arm strength while standing on a bus? Have no fear: Zipcars and Flexcars are here.

Many cities have started programs to make it extremely simple and easy to borrow a car (and in many cities, it’s a hybrid vehicle, too!). You can get your errands done, feel good about your lessened impact, and save dough on car payments, car insurance, and all the car goodies that tend to cramp a pocketbook’s style. Check out the above websites to see if borrowing a car is possible in your ‘hood.

Keeping fuel consumption low is important to your wallet and to the planet. The best way to save gas is to drive less or to share your ride with someone else. If you’ve got a road-trip planned and you’ve just got to do it alone, consider your gas tank before you adjust the temperature. Air Conditioning sucks up a lot of fuel, so roll down the windows to stay cool at low speeds. Should you find yourself hitting the highway, roll up the window and opt for the AC. Yep. The AC may suck up fuel, but aerodynamic drag will suck up more. At high speeds your car will get better fuel economy with the windows up. Keep yourself comfortable, but keep fuel efficiency in mind when you reach for those switches.

Photograph by Jesse Hove.

We stand on our feet for those greenies who opt for a bike or bus over a car as your means of getting around. We also recognize that once in a while you might need a set of powerful wheels to get the job done. More and more rental companies are offering hybrids for just a few extra bucks a day (the gas savings will help balance out the price). And if a hybrid option isn’t available, go for a smaller compact or economy vehicle. You’ll save on gas and rental fees and stress less about parallel parking. If you are thinking of purchasing a car – and can’t afford an eco option, ask yourself if a rental can satisfy your present life needs. You can rent on a long term basis and skip the bank loans, extensive paperwork and hefty insurance and no need to resell when you’re through with it. If nothing else, renting could delay buying a regular car until greener options become more affordable.

For eco rentals go to:
www.evrental.com or www.foxrentacar.com (same companies) for rentals throughout California and one location in Phoenix, Arizona
www.westernroadtrips.com for Salt Lake City, Utah
www.bio-beetle.com for bio diesel rentals in Los Angeles and Hawaii
www.enterprise.com call the local reservations office for availability
www.discountcar.com for Hamilton and Toronto, Ontario

Just gotta drive? Make it a party by carpooling. Did you know that our good ol’ passenger vehicles in traffic make up a striking 40% of the pollution that contributes to the ground level ozone, most commonly known as “smog”? If there’s one thing that can make the biggest impact, it’s getting some of those cars off the road.

Plus – you’ll make friends in your neighborhood! Carpooling has been said to provoke up to 100% more conversations than you have with just yourself. Tee hee.

We all have busy lives and we know it’s hard to sync schedules with a mate for a ride, but every car counts. Make it your goal to share a commute – and a conversation – with someone next week. Feeling uber sexy? Start a vanpool. Many departments of transportation have vanpool programs that will easily hook you up with a vehicle and some ride buddies for sometimes no cost, saving you all even more money. Then, sit back and enjoy the ride.

Gasoline evaporation occurs in your vehicle when the engine is hot whether it is moving or not. Obviously nothing can be done about this when the car is running but parking in the shade can significantly reduce some of the emissions and vapors the car will release while stationary. According to studies, a canopy of tree cover can significantly lower the temperature of parked vehicles and thereby reduce the amount of volatile organic materials released into the air. So seek out your little slice of shade or ask your boss, business or local shopping mall to consider planting shade trees if they haven’t already. Shade trees increase property value, save customers on gas, save businesses on electric bills (if the shade extends to the building) and well shaded consumer areas have shown to encourage customers to spend more time and money at retail stores. Or maybe they’ll just provide a better gulp of fresh air next time you’re in a concrete lot – is that too much to ask?

Last week was the National Bike to Work Week, with last Friday marking the end as National Bike to Work Day.  The event started in 1956, but has gained popularity, resulting in over hundreds of thousands of folks biking to work this year – a pat on the back if you were one of ‘em!  If you missed the hype, it’s not too late.  In fact the best time to try to spark you and a friend’s interest in biking is right now, during the Unofficial Bike to Work Week (now happening for the next 51 weeks!). The Huffington Post did a great article spotlighting 8 excuses people have not to bike to work, with answers and tips for each one and encouragment to explore some carbon-free commuting.  Have a safe ride!

Coral reefs are known as the rain forests of the ocean and a mecca for over 25% of all marine life – everything from tiny sponges to giant sea turtles.  The reefs protect from soil erosion, control carbon dioxide and also bring a great deal of business to struggling communities.  When managed properly, any reef will thrive but today over 70% are in very poor condition.  A simple touch of the hand or brush of the fin can instantly kill off a tiny ecosystem.  It’s important to tread lightly when snorkeling or scuba diving, avoid taking souvenirs or buying coral jewelry, anchor and cast fishing lines away from the reef and avoid sending any pollution into the water.  Reefs are incredibly sensitive and a great indicator of imbalances in the environment.  The slightest shift in temperature or water quality and they rapidly decline.  Are you headed to a reef sometime soon?  Support eco friendly tour companies and feel free to ask questions about their practices – Coral Reef Alliance offers up some good suggestions.  Want to help out while you’re there?  Peruse Reef Check, a non profit organization committed to protecting and rehabilitating reefs the world over.  They have a great list of ways to get involved including scuba diving expeditions, research projects and underwater photography.  Whether you’ve got fins or not, anyone can help bring coral back which is bringing sexy back.