In Your Car

Personal vehicles are responsible for 17% of all energy consumed in the US. While the most obvious way to reduce vehicular air pollution is to drive less, realistically the majority of us rely on our cars to get to and from work, see friends and family, and just live our daily lives – so it’s also about driving smart.

• Keep Your Car Tuned Up. Just 1% of car owners keep their vehicles properly maintained despite the fact that regular maintenance helps improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
• Reduce Your Speed. Reducing your speed from 70 to 55 mph could increase your fuel efficiency by 23%.
• Turn off the Engine - Don't Idle! Whether waiting in your car for it to “warm up” or for your friend to pick up their dry cleaning, idling your vehicle for more than just 10 seconds uses more fuel than restarting your engine.

Reduce - Reuse - Recycle

Let’s get back to basics! By simply reducing the amount of products/services we consume, reusing what we can, and recycling – all of us can help reduce our eco-footprint.

• Buy a Reusable Water Bottle. Americans use 2,500,000 plastic bottles every hour – 80% of which are thrown away! Pledge to reduce bottled water waste and get a $5 Brita coupon at filterforgood.com.
• Get Paid to Recycle. Recycling is not only good for the environment; it can put money back into your pocket. To locate a recycling center near you visit Earth 911.
• Confused About What’s Recyclable? Did you know that the inclusion of non-recyclable items in the recycling bin can actually prevent an entire batch of recyclables from being processed? Be sure to check with your local waste management company on what you can put in your bin. For a standard list of what isn’t acceptable, click here. 
• Entertainment Exchange. You can avoid purchasing new products without sacrificing your entertainment needs. Swap music, movies, and books by visiting swapacd.com, swapadvd.com or paperbackswap.com.
• Donate Unused Items. Donating your unused goods to local organizations and charities keeps goods out of landfills and can qualify you for a tax write-off. View the IRS's list of Ten Tips for Taxpayers Making Charitable Donations.

Energy

• Change Light Bulbs. Lighting accounts for approximately 20% of the average home's electric bill. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use at least two-thirds less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and they last up to 10 times longer.
• Reap the Reward. You can earn tax credits up to $1,500 on specific energy-efficient products purchased and installed in your home through December 31, 2010. View stipulations and a list of approved energy-efficient products.
• Unplug When Not In Use. 5% of all electricity used in the US is wasted on devices in "standby" mode. Save money on your electric bill by unplugging appliances not in use – chargers for your cell phone, MP3 player, laptop, or other unused portable electronics are a great place to start!

Water

The average American consumes 140-160 gallons of water per day. Although more than 75% of the earth’s surface is made up of water, less than 3% is suitable for human consumption. Thankfully, saving water in our daily lives is easy.

• Don’t Let Water Run. Turn off the faucet while you are brushing your teeth, letting the water run continuously can waste as much as 3,650 gallons per year! Using a cup instead of cupping water with your hand further reduces waste.
• Dishwasher vs. Hand Washing Dishes. It takes an average of 20 gallons of water to wash dishes by hand – check to see where your dishwasher ranks to determine the best way to clean dishes in your household.
• The Washing Machine. Washing your clothes in cold water emits less carbon dioxide.
• Think Before You Flush. Avoid flushing bugs, paper towels, or household hazardous waste down the toilet because they can ultimately end up in our water source.