Green On The Go

Technology

Buy Green: Solar Chargers

Power all your gadgets with the best solar chargers on the market.

Getting our gadgets off-grid is becoming increasingly easy thanks to a market boom of high-tech solar chargers. But finding a charger powerful enough is part of the challenge to ensuring you'll actually want to skip plugging your device into the wall. It's important to keep in mind wattage (has it got the muscle to charge your devices?), charging time (does it take five hours or 20 hours of sunlight to fill a battery?), and of course price. Once you've found the right charger, how about small scale renewable energy for shrugging off dirty power wherever possible. These five options range from small and simple-perfect for charging cell phones-to chargers robust enough to recharge laptops. Simply place them in direct sunlight, soak up the energy, and then plug in your gadgets to repower batteries.

(Source: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/buying-guides/buy-green-solar-chargers.html)

SolarGorilla From PowerTraveller

Why We Like It: The foldable design of the SolarGorilla from PowerTraveller makes it an excellent choice for portability, shrinking it down to roughly 10 inches square and about an inch thick. It also comes with a slew of attachments for various plugs on the market, so chances are, it will work for your electronic.

Eco Factor: The relatively high watt rating for this device combined with the compact fold-up design makes this off-grid power source easy and effective in any location. It's also powerful enough to refill not only small devices, but even laptops, meeting a range of needs.

Power: 10 Watts
Where: EarthTech Products
How Much: $250

Solio Charger From Solio

Why We Like It: The Solio Charger delivers both an affordable price tag and tiny portable size-small enough to fit in your back pocket-without sacrificing quality. Since it can go just about anywhere with you, it's great for emergency charging. The brand has been around for quite a few years, and has been a TreeHugger favorite since 2004.

Eco Factor: Solio is ideal for charging small gadgets, so cell phones, MP3 players, and other handhelds never need to be plugged into the wall as long as the sun is out.

Power: 0.6 Watts
Where: Solio
How Much: $50

SolarRoll 4.5 From Brunton

Why We Like It: The portability factor is a big deal in the SolarRoll 4.5 from Brunton. Having a solar charger that can roll right up makes it easy to jump off the grid. Plus, it comes in three different watt capacities so you can choose which size works best for your needs.

Eco Factor: The SolarRoll is made to go in any location, and is super durable-a key trait for an eco-friendly product.

Power: 4.5 to 14 Watts depending on the size of the roll
Where: Brunton
How Much: 4.5 Watt roll (all you'll need for hand-held devices) is $295

Solaris 26 From Brunton

Why We Like It: With the Solaris 26 from Brunton, you've got a huge amount of power in a very small package. While this charger folds up to a nice small size-only 11 inches by 8.5 inches by 1 inch-its maximum output of 26 watts means it has the ability to easily charge up your laptop computer, let alone smaller devices.

Eco Factor: It can fit just about anywhere, from under a car seat to in a backpack, so that charging even your netbook or notebook is a breeze without a ton of space.

Power: 26 Watts
Where: Brunton
How Much: $620

Voltaic Backpack From Voltaic Systems

Why We Like It: We love that the Voltaic Backpack from Voltaic Systems incorporates solar charging ability into a practical backpack. You don't have to worry about how much room the charger will take up in your pack because, well, it is the pack. The backpack is perfect for charging handhelds, and the company also produces a laptop case strong enough to charge your notebook.

Eco Factor: Walk in the sun and you'll get your gear charged up while on the go. Not to mention, the pack itself is made from recycled PET bottles and is UV resistant so you don't have to worry about it fading from all that charging.

Power: 4 Watts
Where: Voltaic Systems
How much: $250

(Source: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/buying-guides/buy-green-solar-chargers.html)

Cool Green apps for your iPhone

I've had my iPhone for more than a year, but I've been slow to load up on apps, mainly depending on my friends to tip me off to hidden gems. Then last week I saw an Earth Day commercial for green iPhone apps (or a commercial on Earth Day for iPhone stuff ... it could have been a coincidence) and suddenly had an urge to find out more.

At this point there's no good way to search the iTunes store -- or if there is, I'm not smart enough/young enough to figure it out. Instead I did some internet research and read a bunch of reviews. These are some of the highest rated green iPhone apps, with the biggest buzz and in some cases the most potential to grow:

• greenMeter ($5.99) -- do you know how fuel efficient your car is? How about your driving? This app measures how much fuel you're using, and your driving style. Then it gives you feedback to help you reduce your fuel consumption and impact on the environment.
• Get Green ($.99) -- get daily reminders delivered to your phone every day.
• iGreen ($.99) -- all the green news, all in one place, right when it happens.
• GasBag (free) and GasBag Pro (a little faster, no ads, $.99) -- find the closest and cheapest gas station in your vicinity. Worth it if you've ever driven around outside of an airport, looking for a gas station before dropping off a rental car. It will also help you avoid the extra emissions and gas guzzling of making the rounds of your local gas stations.
• 3rdwhaleMobile (free) -- a location based directory that helps you find green businesses. You can also rate and add reviews. It's in beta, but it's the kind of app that has a lot of potential as it grows.

FYI, I didn't include any of those dumb apps that let you grow a tree on your phone, and they plant one (!) tree when you buy it. That just seems dumb. If you want to donate money to plant a tree, go right to the source and donate to something like the Nature Conservancy's Plant a Billion Trees. Your phone doesn't need to get involved.

Sure, iPhone apps are cool, but sometimes the old fashioned way still works best.

by Cat Lincoln
Apr 28th 2009

(Source: http://www.greendaily.com/2009/04/28/cool-green-apps-for-your-iphone/)

Are You a Green Globetrotter? (Quiz)

Take this quiz and test your green travel knowledge.

What makes a hotel sustainable? Where's the greenest place to eat when you're on vacation? What's generally the greenest way to get to your destination?

You may be a globetrotter, but are you an eco-globetrotter? Find out in our quiz:

Visit this link to take the quiz: Are You a Green Globetrotter? 

(Source: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/travel-outdoors/green-globetrotter-quiz.html

Sleep Easy at Green Hotels

Use this guide to choose the environmentally friendly accommodation that's right for your next trip.

Vacations are a time when we tend to throw out the rules and relax, but that doesn't mean we should stop being green. In fact, it's easier than ever to have a great escape while staying true to your green principles. For instance, the travel industry has created a network of environmentally friendly hotels, B & Bs, resorts, motels, lodges and inns where we can enjoy our creature comforts without spoiling the environment. Read on to learn what makes a more sustainable stay, as well as how to be a greener guest.

Green guidelines for hotels

Green hotels are a hot trend in the travel industry, and naturally, everyone is eager to slap on the green label. But check out their claims before you book. International organizations such as the Green Hotels Association have accreditation programs for hotels following certain sustainability standards and practices. In Canada, consult the Hotel Association of Canada's (HAC) Green Key Eco-Rating Program, which audits the environmental performance of Canadian hotels, motels and resorts. It will let you know how various establishments are reducing their environmental impact-and operating costs-by cutting utility consumption, and improving employee training and supply chain management. Trail Canada also maintains a list environmentally friendly accommodation to fit any budget.

Lodging hierarchy

Sustainable tourism is arguably taken most seriously by eco-lodges. They combine a carefully preserved natural setting with architecture that reflects local culture and heritage. The lodges themselves are usually made using locally harvested and other sustainable or recycled material, and they should have enviro-friendly energy, water and waste systems. "Green hotels" and eco spas are two other hospitality categories that are rapidly expanding.

No matter what type of accommodation you choose, here are the environmental criteria to look for. The best green hotels should meet all these criteria; the better choices should meet at least half:

• Conserving water through using low-flow showerheads and toilets.
• Offering linen and towel reuse programs on a two- to three-day cycle.
• Using ENERGY STAR efficient appliances.
• Using refillable hair and skin-care dispensers.
• Using lights which are compact fluorescents and on sensors or timers.
• Using recycled paper and chlorine-free paper products behind the desk and in your room.
• Using an energy-management system (EMS) for the heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) system with a solar water-heating system for pools and hot tubs.
• Using non-toxic cleaners, sanitizers, paints and pesticides throughout the hotel.
• Room Service that includes cloth napkins, glass cups, ceramic dishes and other reusable items.
• Offering organic, locally grown food in the hotel restaurant along with composting food waste.

Be a green guest

Once you've book your green accommodation, there's lots of ways you can further minimize the environmental cost of your stay. For starters, let housekeeping know they don't need to change your sheets and towels every day. Try to remember to turn off the AC, heat, lights and TV when you leave your room. Leave the little bottles of shampoo and soaps alone, and ask for non-disposable dishes, cutlery and glasses when ordering room service. Make sure to turn off the sauna, whirlpool, exercise equipment and Jacuzzi when you're finished with them. Ultimately, remember that your voice counts, so let hotel management know that you prefer to spend your money at hotels that have been approved by a third party, such as the Green Hotels Association or TerraChoice Environmental Marketing (which oversees the Audubon Green Leaf Eco-Rating Program).

(Source: http://greenlivingonline.com/article/sleep-easy-green-hotels

20 Ways to Stay Green During Your Commute

You might be a green commuter if...

1. You prefer commuting with a friend. You might even find that your road rage tendency and stress levels decrease significantly when traveling with a buddy.

2. You've taken your cat for a walk to the vet, rather than driving there!

3. Instead of driving to the gym, you'd rather walk to the grocery store. Part of a healthy lifestyle includes walking and riding every chance you get. It is just as healthy (and better for the environment) to do errands on foot, than take separate time out during the day to exercise. It is kind of like planting two trees, but using only one seed.

4. You know all of the best bike routes to make your daily commute quick, easy, and safe.

5. You actually know what it's like to accomplish an over-the-shoulder farmer's nose blow while riding your bike in sub-degree temperatures.

6. You maintenance your vehicle regularly for optimum fuel efficiency.

7. You have gone on vacation and actually rented a bike instead of a car.

8. When you must drive, you plan your route around as many right turns as possible.

9. You have sat down and calculated the current fuel efficiency of your vehicle. This is like keeping track of your blood pressure or cholesterol level. You can't make any improvements unless you know where you're starting from.

10. You know that regenerative braking is not the process of the brakes actually regenerating themselves, but rather the regeneration of electric power to a hybrid or electric vehicles battery.

11. The last pizza tin you bought was destined for your vehicle, rather than your oven!

12. Rather than idling excessively during gridlock traffic, you know to shut-down your engine and restart once traffic begins to move again.

13. Road rage is something you try to avoid at all times, choosing to use defensive driving tactics, rather than offensive/aggressive.

14. You have never yelled, "Get a car," whenever you see a grown adult skating, scooting, or cruising on a velomobile.

15. When traveling alone, in a choice between plane, train, automobile, or bus, you'd choose the bus almost every time.

16. You have used either a MPG Meter, Fuel Mizer, GPS, or solar battery charger within the past month.

17. You dream about coasting down a hill at 120 mpg in your Toyota Prius, rather than racing the Lemans in a 427 Shelby Cobra AC.

18. You've driven to work the day after Thanksgiving, using your own turkey grease as a fuel alternative!

19. You prefer a workweek of four 10-hour days rather than five 8-hour days.

20. You have to think about where your gas tank is located each time you pull into a fuel station, it has been that long since your last fill-up.

(Source: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tech-transport/green-commute-tips.html)

Tips on How To Travel Green

Public Transportation: Fast Track to Fewer Emissions and Energy Independence

Families that use public transportation can save more than they spend on food.

If you want to help reduce global warming, let alone air pollution, one of the best things you can do is to get out of your car. Walk or ride a bicycle for short trips, or take public transportation for longer ones. Either way, you will significantly reduce the amount of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions you generate each day.

The Rising Environmental Cost of Driving Alone

Transportation accounts for more than 30 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions. According to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), public transportation in the United States saves approximately 1.4 billion gallons of gasoline and about 1.5 million tons of carbon dioxide annually. Yet only 14 million Americans use public transportation daily while 88 percent of all trips in the United States are made by car-and many of those cars carry only one person.

Added Benefits of Public Transportation - Consider these other benefits of public transportation:

• Energy independence - According to Treehugger.com, if just one in 10 Americans used public transportation daily, U.S. reliance on foreign oil would decrease 40 percent.
• Safety - Riding a bus is 79 times safer than riding in an automobile, and riding a train or subway is even safer.
• Health - Studies have shown that people who use public transportation regularly tend to be healthier than people who don't, because of the exercise they get walking to and from bus stops, subway stations and their homes and offices.
• Cost savings - According to an APTA study, families that use public transportation can reduce their household expenses by $6,200 annually, more than the average U.S. household spends on food every year.

The Heart of the Debate Over Public Transportation

So why don't more Americans use public transportation? Transportation experts and social scientists may argue about which came first, America's love affair with the automobile or the urban and suburban sprawl that makes long daily commutes in at least one and often two cars a requirement for many American families. Either way, the problem at the heart of the debate is that good public transportation systems are not available to enough people. While public transportation is readily available in many major cities, the majority of Americans in smaller cities, towns and rural areas simply don't have access to public transportation. So the problem is twofold:

• Persuading people with ready access to public transportation to use it more often.
• Creating affordable public transportation options in smaller communities.

Trains, Buses and Automobiles

Train systems are the most efficient in many ways, typically emitting less carbon and using less fuel per passenger than buses, but they are often more expensive to implement. Also, the traditional advantages of trains can be mitigated to a large extent by using hybrids or buses that run on natural gas.

Another promising alternative is bus rapid transit (BRT), which runs extra-long buses in dedicated lanes. A 2006 study by the Breakthrough Technologies Institute found that a BRT system in a medium-sized U.S. city could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 650,000 tons during a 20-year period.

If you live in an area with good public transportation, do something good for the planet today. Park your car, and take the subway or the bus. If you don't, then talk to your local and federal elected officials about the benefits of public transportation and how it may help solve some of the problems they're wrestling with right now.

(Source: http://environment.about.com/od/greenlivingdesign/a/public_transit.htm)

5 Ways to Green Your Flight

1. Book a Direct Flight
50% of carbon emissions are released during takeoff and landing. You can save 272 gallons of jet fuel by booking a direct flight.

2. Choose a Green Airline
Some airlines have taken strides to reduce emissions and save energy. Reward the greener airlines by flying with them. Always encourage them to go greener. I like the TRX carbon calculator. It breaks down the carbon cost of flights by airline.

3. Buy Carbon Offsets
Carbon offsets are a great way to alleviate guilt and carbon. Make sure to use a reliable offset company. Tufts University did a study on which offset companies were a cut above the rest.

4. Don't Use the Airplane Bathroom
Using an airplane bathroom consumes about six miles worth of gasoline. If you gotta go, you gotta go. But if you go before takeoff or hold it till after arrival, you'd be doing the world a service.

5. Pack Less
The more weight a plane has to carry, the more fuel it has to consume. If 200 passengers packed 5 fewer pounds, they'd relieve the plane one half-ton. Some airlines are removing the paint from their planes to reduce weight, by 440 pounds. Every little bit helps. Do your part.

(Source: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/green-air-travel.html)

Check into Green Hotels
Transportation, land development, and consumption associated with tourism – now the number one industry in the world – contribute to global warming, habitat destruction, and dislocation of native populations. One way to reduce the impact on your vacation is to stay in sustainably designed and operated hotels, resorts, inns, and bed and breakfasts.

Here are some examples of hotels that do their part to be green.

• The Sheraton Rittenhouse Square Hotel in Philadelphia, Penn., and Habitat Suites in Austin, Texas, operate like most conventional hotels, but have furnishings, building materials, towels, and supplies made with organic or recycled materials, and sustainably harvested woods.
  
  Grounds and rooms are maintained with non-toxic cleaners and least-toxic pest control methods.
• Arbor House, a bed and breakfast in Madison, WI, has low-flow showers and toilets.
• Molokai Ranch in Hawaii uses solar power and composting toilets, for example.
• Some hotels provide cards, created by the Green Hotels Association (GHA), which let guests elect to reuse sheets and towels. GHA also helps over 200 hotels implement better water, energy and solid waste programs.

Because no single standard exists for green hotels, it's important for consumers to question hoteliers about eco-friendly practices before reserving a room. And, after your stay, don't forget to make a note in hotel feedback forms about changes you'd like to see. "The more consumer questions about environmental issues hoteliers get, the more likely they'll change," says Jamie Sweeting, Director of Conservation International’s travel and leisure industry program.

(Source: National Geographic Green Guide)

Did you know… (provided by Climate Cooler)

• If just 1 in 10 of our customers switched to Green$ense, that would be the equivalent of taking 5,000 cars off the road?
• Green$ense electronic statements and transactions have 90% less impact on global warming than equivalent paper statements?
• Switching to Green$ense to get rid of your paper statements is like growing a tree every year to help fight global warming?

Vacations

Eco-Friendly Vacations
By Cat Lincoln

It's time to make summer vacation plans! After a few seasons of "staycations," many people are craving a break from their everyday life -- we want a little adventure! By the same token, the economy is still shaky, and the spirit of giving back is still a strong influence on all of our decisions.

How does a conservation-minded person reconcile all of these feelings and motivations?

One answer is to take advantage of the World Wildlife Fund vacation packages that promote conservation while taking travelers to remote sites in a sustainably-managed way. The programs offered include:

• a trip to the Arctic to see polar bears, who might be gone soon and need all the support they can get
• a voyage to Kenya's Masai Mara Reserve to help improve the water and ensure conservation of natural resources
• visit remote islands in New Zealand and help prevent the bycatch of dolphins
• a family vacation to Belize to help conserve the Mesoamerican reef, which you even get to visit on a snorkel excursion!

Visit www.worldwildlife.org for details

The International Eco-Tourism Society offers even more choices of location, beneficiary and location, as well as tips and educational tools. The site even has a brand new eco-tourism job board, in case the thought of going home fills you with dread. Check out all the offer at www.ecotourism.org

If your budget is still a bit tight for international any travel, there's always a day at your local zoo. It may not be as exotic as Kenya or Belize, but it can still be educational, entertaining, and in a way you're supporting conservation efforts. And if you're very clever about how you take pictures, you might even be able to convince the gang back at the office that you were in a truly wild place!

(Source: http://www.greendaily.com/2009/05/15/take-a-summer-trip-to-conservation-central/)

Green Vacation Ideas and Planning

Green Vacation Ideas and Planning is part of our Back to School: Green Travel Basics Series.

Are you looking for ideas for your next vacation? Perhaps this time you want it to be a green vacation? Here are some of the best green vacation ideas we've come across.

Camp

Camping, provided you practice leave-no-trace camping, is a one of the best green vacations. It's fun by yourself or with friends and family. Be sure to stay on trails and in designated camp sites. Look for signs and obey rules and regulations the camp area has.

Rent an RV

I've never done this (yet) but, renting an RV and driving across the country makes for a great green vacation. While RVs may get terrible gas mileage, your vacation will make up for this because you're not flying nor are you using resources such as electricity at a hotel. Just make sure it's a small RV.

Read and Relax Vacation

Go somewhere closer to home (via car, train, or bus) and spend your entire trip reading and relaxing. Not only is this rejuvenating but it has a low impact on the environment.

Visit State and National Parks

There are state/national parks across the world. Visit them to support their conservation efforts.

Visit Family and Friends

When you visit family and friends on vacation you're sharing resources and thus more likely to be green. Plus, you'll get the insider's scoop on the destination you're visiting.

Train to Anywhere

Taking an overnight train is an incredible experience and it makes for a very green vacation. Amtrak (in the US) has more options than you might think. Looking for an ultimate train ride? Check out the Trans-Siberian. Fair warning: 7 days on a train is a very very long time.

(Source: http://gogreentravelgreen.com/green-recreation/green-vacation-ideas-and-planning/)

Staycations

Staycations: The new wave in eco-vacations
By Patricia Mayville-Cox

Forget eco-tourism. The greenest way to vacation is to have a "Staycation." That's right, it's just what it sounds like, a vacation, where you stay home. No flying, no long car trips. Now, as someone who will actually be embarking on a staycation this year instead of a real vacation, I've been trying to distill the elements of what makes a vacation a vacation, and how can we incorporate them into our staycation. Here's what I've come up with:

• No cooking: While on vacation, we usually eat light during the day and then have a nice dinner out at night. I can do that!
• No projects or errands: Of course, you'll have to keep up with your daily housekeeping routine, or you'll have quite a mess to clean up at the end of it. Otherwise, no taking on big projects like cleaning out the basement or painting the garage. No catching up on errands or appointments either. If you wouldn't do it on a real vacation, don't do it on your staycation.
• Plan a few day trips: Plan a few day trips around your area. Best part is, you'll be flexible and not so bummed if it rains out one day, as you can always go the next day. Or any other day during the year, since you're, er, right in your area.
• Unplug: This one is critical. One must unplug. Sometimes I think that we deliberately seek out places for rest and relaxation just to get away from our computers and laptops and Blackberrys and cells. Change the voicemails on your phones too. For even more oomph, turn off your TV too. If you think you might be really antsy and needing some screen time, rent a few classic films that you've been meaning to see.

Climate Change - What You Can Do on the Road

The burning of fuels releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere and contributes to climate change, but these emissions can be reduced by improving your car's fuel efficiency. You can take the following actions to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the nation's dependence on oil and save money. For more information, there are also a number of transportation tools available to estimate emissions from transportation and the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that can be reduced through specific activities.

1. Buy smart

Before buying a new or used vehicle (or even before renting a vehicle), check out EPA's Green Vehicle Guide and the jointly-run EPA/DOE Fuel Economy Guide. These resources provide information about the emissions and fuel economy performance of different vehicles. The Green Vehicle Guide provides detailed information on emissions (including Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gas scores for each model) and the Fuel Economy Guide focuses on fuel efficiency (including side-by-side fuel economy comparisons and a customized fuel cost calculator). These Web sites are designed to help you choose the cleanest, most fuel-efficient vehicle that meets your needs. There are a wide range of cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles available on the market today that produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

2. Drive smart

Many factors affect the fuel economy of your car. To improve fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, go easy on the brakes and gas pedal, avoid hard accelerations, reduce time spent idling and unload unnecessary items in your trunk to reduce weight. If you have a removable roof rack and you are not using it, take it off to improve your fuel economy by as much as 5 percent. Use overdrive and cruise control on your car if you have those features. For more tips to improve your gas mileage, visit the Fuel Economy Guide.

3. Tune your ride

A well-maintained car is more fuel-efficient, produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions, is more reliable, and is safer! Keep your car well tuned, follow the manufacturer's maintenance schedule, and use the recommended grade of motor oil. Also check and replace your vehicle's air filter regularly. For more details, including potential savings from these actions, visit the Fuel Economy Guide Web site.

4. Check your tires

Check your tire pressure regularly. Under-inflation increases tire wear, reduces your fuel economy by up to 3 percent and leads to higher greenhouse gas emissions and releases of air pollutants. If you don't know the correct tire pressure for your vehicle, you can find it listed on the door to the glove compartment or on the driver's-side door pillar. More details on the Fuel Economy Guide Web site.

5. Give your car a break

Use public transportation, carpool or walk or bike whenever possible to avoid using your car. Leaving your car at home just two days a week will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 1,600 pounds per year. Whenever possible, combine activities and errands into one trip. For daily commuting, consider options like telecommuting (working from home via phone or over the Internet) that can reduce the stress of commuting, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and save you money.

6. Use Renewable Fuels

Both E85 and biodiesel are renewable fuels that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from your vehicle. E85 is a fuel blend containing 85% ethanol that can be used in certain vehicles called Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs). FFVs can be fueled with E85 or with traditional gasoline. There are approximately 6 million FFVs on the road today. To find out if you own one of them, check the inside of your car's fuel filler door for an identification sticker or consult your owner's manual. If you own a diesel vehicle, consider filling up with a biodiesel blend such as B5, a fuel blend containing 5% biodiesel. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel made from agricultural resources such as vegetable oils. The Department of Energy's Alternative Fueling Station Locator can help you locate both E85 and biodiesel fuel stations in your area.

(Source: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/road.html

6 Biggest Environmental Mistakes People Make with their Vehicles

When it comes to caring for and driving a vehicle, the average consumer can make some seemingly small mistakes that can end up costing the environment and other drivers dearly.

Various Internet sources are always putting together lists featuring the biggest mistakes people make when driving their vehicle, such as not using their lights in bad weather, driving too close to other vehicles, and accelerating too quickly when leaving a light. All these are viable problems, but today we are going to focus on the mistakes that are most harmful to the environment, as well as a compromise to our own safety and the safety of those around us.

Resist the Temptation to Wash Your Vehicle in the Driveway
Many times DIY type projects save you money, time, and even a few trees in the process. They involve no paperwork, simple tools, and can be as green as the do it yourselfer would like them to be. However, in the case of washing your own vehicle, this is one scenario where self-washing is actually not always as green as taking it to a professional service center. It uses two to three times more water, the chemical runoff can find its way into the water supply, and it can sometimes take longer than just driving to the nearest environmentally friendly car wash.

Follow a Strict Maintenance Schedule
This is a big problem that a lot of vehicle owners are guilty of, especially during poor economic times. The problem occurs when people choose to drive their vehicle until they have a problem, then bring their vehicle in for servicing, rather than taking an active roll in preventative maintenance. Just like seeing your doctor for regular check-ups, a vehicle needs to have regular servicing done to ensure years of trouble free service, good gas mileage, and low emissions. Such servicing involves changing your fluids and filters regularly, replacing spark plugs, and maintaining a clean fuel system. Best of all, many of these maintenance type services and repairs can be accomplished DIY style, with limited mechanical knowledge, minimal tools, and a minimal charge, due to the price break by using your own labor.

Keep a Bi-weekly Eye on Your Tires
Tires are a commonly forgotten part of a vehicle, yet they are one of the most important links to safety, gas economy, and emissions. The different ways a tire is manufactured can improve roll resistance, durability, and its ability to tackle all sorts of weather (rain, sleet, snow). Beyond the tires themselves however, maintaining the proper inflation of tires is also of pivotal importance. Fuel economy can be affected when the pressure of a tire is off by as little as three to five psi (pounds per square inch). It is also a good idea to keep an eye out for uneven wear, or other abnormalities in your tires. This will help you gauge when it is time for their replacement.

Avoid Unnecessary, Excessive Idling
Hopefully, with all the coverage this problem has been receiving, it will soon no longer be such an eyesore for many daily commuters, but currently excessive idling is still a huge problem in the United States. Such a huge problem in fact, that laws have been passed to help discourage folks from participating in these actions. Not only can the fumes from idling damage your lungs, and the lungs of those around you, the EPA states that anytime you expect a wait of 1 minute or more, it would behoove you to shut down the engine and restart when ready to go. Following this will improve the health of the planet, your fuel economy, and reduce the impact of your overall carbon footprint.

Drive 55, Believe the Jive
Most people know by now that overzealous driving wastes fuel and increases your vehicles emissions, but they may not know, that so does overly slow driving. The most efficient way to drive your vehicle is to stay well within the legal speed limit and remain at a moderate speed and steady pace for the duration of the drive. For most vehicles the optimum speed limit is somewhere between 50 and 60 mph. The reason for this, is this also happens to be the average speed at which the government tests vehicles in order to determine their fuel economy rating. It is only natural for manufacturers to desire to receive the very best mpg scores possible, so in order to achieve this, they design their vehicles to perform the most efficiently at these speeds.

Refuse to Participate in the Road Rage Epidemic
Road rage is a growing problem in the US and the greatest evidence of this infliction is from the statistics which support these claims. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) estimates that as much as one-third of all car crashes are caused by aggressive driving. Accidents such as these reduce vehicle efficiency and increase emissions by causing gridlock, which results in excessive idling. It is easy to get angry because of careless drivers on the road, but by giving into this anger, you often only end up joining their aggressive driving style. Don't feed the beast and worry about the other drivers, just be cautious, defensive, and most importantly…just be happy!

(Source: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tech-transport/environmental-mistakes-vehicles.html)