Set sprinklers to water the lawn or garden only - not the street or sidewalk.
Use the microwave to cook small meals. (It uses less power than an oven.)
Purchase "Green Power" for your home's electricity. (Contact your power supplier to see where and if it is available.)
Scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before loading into the dishwasher; wash only full loads.
Cut back on air conditioning and heating use if you can.
Turn off appliances and lights when you leave the room.
The U.S. Census Bureau reports that the average American spends 100 hours commuting to work each year. That’s a lot of time behind the wheel, even if it’s a necessity to make a living.
Let’s skip the obvious ways to cut the environmental impact for your commute (like carpooling and public transportation) and address eight ways that you can make a difference driving yourself to work.
For those early morning drives, you may need a cup of Joe to keep your eyes on the road. You can find reusable containers made of metal or plastic that are commute-safe, and will also reduce your waste (translation: a cleaner car). You may also be eligible for a discount at the local coffee shop by bringing your own mug. Find out where to recycle plastic bottles and other disposable containers using Earth 911.
The way you drive not only affects your gas mileage, but also the longevity of your car’s parts. Driving at (or below) the speed limit will help. So will:
Use Earth 911 to find out where to recycle tires and other automotive products near you.
You may not consider parking part of your commute, but it can influence your use of air conditioning and heat on the way home. In the summer, try to find a shaded spot and crack your windows to keep the temperature of your car from rising too much during the day.
Sunlight can also cause damage to your interior, such as cracking leather seats and spreading windshield chips. Snow and ice can wear out your wiper blades faster; lifting them off your windshield when you’re parked can help prevent this.
Music can be a great distraction during your commute. But playing CDs while you drive can lead to scratched discs when you hit a pothole. If your computer has a CD burner (chances are it does if it was manufactured in the past five years), you can convert songs to MP3 files and consolidate five or more CDs on one MP3 CD. Then you can leave the originals where they are less likely to scratch so they last longer.
Guess what: you can find out where to recycle CDs when they’re beyond repair using Earth 911.
Driving to lunch while you’re at work is technically part of your commute. One option to avoid this is to pack your own lunch (you can even eat it outside to escape the office). Take it a step further by purchasing locally-grown fruit and vegetables from a farmer’s market, and packing it in a reusable container.
If your company has more than 100 employees, the Clean Air Act requires your employer to encourage telecommuting. Working from home just one day a week will cut your carbon footprint and wear and tear on your car. Just don’t abuse the program so your boss has a reason to revoke the privilege.
If your job allows for a flexible schedule, keep this in mind when deciding your departure times. In summer, an earlier start means you can use less air conditioning, while a later start in winter means less heat usage. You’ll also find that commuting during off-hours will mean less traffic.
When gas prices rise, we tend to look for the best deal. But consider that a savings of $.10 per gallon is only a few dollars less spent per fill-up. Instead of driving around for the cheapest gas station, you can put less miles on your car (and its parts) by finding the closest fill-up option.
This story is part of Earth 911’s “Green Eight” series, where we showcase eight ways to green your life in various areas. Click here to see Earth 911’s “Green Eight” archive.
Earth 911 delivers actionable local information on recycling that empowers consumers to act locally, live responsibly and contribute to sustainability.
