I Want To Be Greener But Need Help.?

Walking, riding your bike or using public transportation is ALWAYS the better alternative. Saving the big $$ can take away the pain of deciding whether or not you're able to take the kids to the beach this weekend.

When you must drive these are a few of those basics you probably heard way back when & some new easy ways you can save fuel and be environmentally friendly to boot:

Fill up with a lower-octane gasoline. Buy the lowest grade or octane of gasoline that is appropriate for your car. Unless your car requires premium gasoline, filling up your car with high-octane fuel is a waste of money. That pricey premium fuel won't boost your car's fuel economy or performance in the least, so skip it. If you're not sure what grade of fuel works best for your car, open up your owner's manual and take a look if that higher priced kick is really required.

Don't top off. Don't bother topping off when filling your car's gas tank. Any additional gas is just going to slop around or seep out. Why waste your money paying for gas your car won't use? Stop pumping at the first indication that your tank is full when the automatic nozzle clicks off.

Tighten up that gas cap. Gas will evaporate from your car's gas tank if it has an escape. Loose, missing or damaged gas caps cause 147 million gallons of gas to evaporate each year, according to the Car Care Council. So be sure to tighten up that gas cap each time you fuel up!

Go for the shade. The hot summer sun that makes the inside of your car feel like a sauna also zaps fuel from your gas tank. If you let your car bake in the sun there will be a greater amount of evaporative emissions that take place than if you park in the shade says the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and http://www.greenercars.org/ So park your car in the shade of a building or tree whenever possible and buy a good windshield shade, or better yet, clean out that junk and park in the garage!

Pump up your tires. Check your tire pressure monthly, pressure goes up when hot and goes down when cool. Buy a digital gauge and compare pressure with the recommended listing in your owner’s manual or placard in your car door, this can save you up to $130 per year. Good time to check is in the early morn. Don't get caught driving on underinflated tires. Underinflated tires wear down more quickly and they also lower your car's gas mileage.

Keep your engine in tune. Fixing a car that is out of tune or has failed an emissions test can boost gas mileage by about 4 percent. So be sure to give your car regular tune-ups. You'll also want to watch out for worn spark plugs. A misfiring spark plug can reduce a car's fuel efficiency by as much as 30 percent.

Replace air filters. Keep a close eye on your engine's air filter. When the engine air filter clogs with dirt, dust and bugs, it causes your engine to work harder and your car becomes less fuel-efficient. Chk every 3 mos. or 3000 miles. Replacing a clogged air filter could improve your gas mileage by as much as 10 percent and save you 15 cents a gallon!

Use the right oil. You can improve your car's gas mileage by 1 percent to 2 percent by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. Opt for motor oil with the words "energy conserving" on the API performance label. This oil contains friction-reducing additives.

Remove your roof rack. Eliminates weight & drag therefore reducing fuel consumption.

Park your car & go inside to eat. That drive thru may seem convenient but you’ll save overall by parking & maybe help your digestion instead of rushing about in that hectic traffic.

Going green is easy, there are so many great resources about the subject. My personal favorite is "The Green Book" which has parts of its book online as well at www.readthegreenbook.com.

As I have been striving to "Go Green" I realize it is like stepping back in time without getting rid of my modern conveniences. I'm doing many things I learned as a child, like line drying my clothes, sweeping instead of vacuuming, opening the windows in the morning to catch the cool breeze, only buying what I need instead of everything that looks cool, growing some of my own food, and canning what I can't eat now.

To me "going Green" is a frame of mind. Do what fits your lifestyle and do the easy things first, it is a process and like dieting if you go to radical to soon, you are more likely to go back to bad habits. I also believe there are good, better, best choices in most things. If you aren't ready to start a home garden, then try finding a farmers market, until you locate one look for produce grown as close to home as possible and go organic when available.

Many people think "going green" is expensive, I disagree. Some changes may take an initial investment, but they usually have a short payoff time. Things like weatherstiping and insulation cost, but the energy savings will add up quickly. You may need to purchase reusable bags, but most stores give you a 5 or 10 cent credit, so you are paid back within a few months.

My top tips are make your home more energy efficient, that also means using natural light, cooling and heating.

Reduce your packaging, if you eat more fresh food you will generally reduce packaging, it's the same thing they tell dieters, shop the perimiter, that is where all the meat, dairy and produce are located. Only buy what you will use, many Americans throw away a lot of unused food. Buy in bulk, that doesn't just mean large packages, but that area with the bins that you buy only what you plan on using.

Replace disposable items with durable items, if you eat outside often and use disposable paper or plastic plates, it is a wise investment to purchase a set of reusable plastic plates. Replace disposable razors, diapers and cleaning products like swiffer. Avoid bottled water, get a home filter like Pur or Brita.

Recycle, www.earth911.org will help you locate the nearest recycle center. I try to only purchase plastics that are #1 or #2, they are more easily recycled. I also buy recycled products when available, that includes paper towels, napkings, toilet paper, tissue, school/office supplies and clothing.

Detox your cleaning, vinegar and baking soda clean almost anything, they can even losen a hair clog. Seventh Generation and Method are a couple mainstream brands that are very earth friendly.

Just start small and build from there, don't get overwhelmed.

One thing you might want to look at getting is a system that can be installed in your home to allow you to shut off individual power outlets from your computer. What this means is that normally when you have a lamp plugged into the wall it will still be drawing electricity from the outlet even if the lamp is off. This new system allows you to shut those outlets off if they are not being used. If you are living with your parents or in an apartment complex then you would have to talk with your parents or landlord to get permission. A simple way would be to start using a reusable bag when getting groceries. You do not necessarily need to buy one from the store. Any tote bag or for larger grocery trips try using one of those laundry bags. One other thing that you might want to consider although it will take more work is to become a vegetarian. Not only will that make you more environmentally friendly but it will also make you a lot healthier. I chose to become one when I discovered the horrible conditions that most animals that are raised for food are kept in and even those that roam somewhat free put a high strain on the planet. There are other ways to become more green and I would suggest asking at your local library for more info. I congratulate you on your decision and hope you will be successful in your quest. I would suggest that as you struggle to do this it will help if you can go to your parents, teachers, clergy or friends for support. It is good to have a support group and they may even have ideas for you to try.

Turn off the lights when not in use

Buy organic clothing: http://www.peacefrogs.com/store/category.php?catid...

Walk instead of driving

Reuse my water bottle

Recycle, recycle, recycle: http://www.obviously.com/recycle/guides/hard.html

Found some good tips for making your home environmentally friendly on HGTV:

http://www.hgtv.com/organizing/carters-efficiency-...

A fun blog on going green and sharing your own recycling ideas: http://www.peacefrogs.com/pfblog/

Also, if you have some time to spare, there is a very resourceful site with 50 tips to go green: http://www.divinecaroline.com/article/22355/28177

Here's a great site for inspiration on living greener: www.landcareheroes.com

It's a site from Landcare Australia with some incrdibly inspiring people who are finding practical solutions to environmental problems in their area, and getting together to fix them. I spent hours reading their stories.

www.landcareonline.com/directory and enter your postcode if you want to get involved.

Hi there, here are some options on what you can do:

1. When you brush your teeth, take a shower, etc. and you aren't using the water, just turn it off.

2. Turn off the lights when you don't use them.

3. Tell the world about our planet.

4. If you're drawing or writing and you messed it up, use the back side of the paper.

5. When you print something, use recycled paper.

6. Separate trash to organics, paper, inorganic, and cans.

7. Think about Earth and don't ever forget those tips!

Hi I am all about being green..here are some tips =)

When you go food shopping re-use plastic bags or get the canvas bags

When you brush your teeth turn the water off

Re-use plastic bottles

Recycle everything you possibly can

Dont litter

If you are in one room turn off the lights around the house

Dont take long showers

Turn off tv's and computers when you arent using them

Keep fridge closed

Hope this helps!

try buying the reusable cloth bags in your grocery store,make sure you always wash full loads of clothes,try to use the clothesline instead of the dryer,always turn off lights when not using them,only run the dishwasher when it's full,recycle anything that your community allows,recycle your old magazines(we donate ours to our local library,they then bundle them and resell them for 1.00 for about 5-6 magazines) these are just a few simple ideas that can make a difference

Since you are buying this global warming myth may I suggest. Since the main greenhouse gas is Carbon Dioxide and you exhale it, perhaps you should stop breathing.

If you find this silly, you should really investigate the global warming concept. May I suggest you follow the money, it will always lead you to the truth.

BTW, Mt. St. Helens eruption put out more carbon dioxide than man has since the industrial revolution started. We also had a mini ice-age about 400 AD. Just who's car do you suppose caused that???

Convenience has made life simpler and easier, but you can contribute in your purchasing power by buying online GREEN products instead!!

These are some great online websites providing sustained/recycled everyday items: