Simple Steps To Continue Driving, Save Money and Help the Environment

There is no doubt that vehicles and drivers take the brunt of criticism when it comes to issues of carbon emission, global warming, and environmental pollution. Although cars and trucks may indeed be a major contributor to the problems faced by our planet, realistically people aren't prepared to make drastic changes in their lifestyle which would include eliminating the use of an automobile.

There are however a few things that everyone can do to reduce the effects of automiles on the environment. Take these simple steps to help the environment and save money on gas.

Maintain Your Vehicle:

• Make sure your tire pressure is correct.


• Keep your air filter clean and replace it when necessary.


• Get your tires aligned.


• Have your engine well tuned.


• Remove any extra weight such as unnecessary items kept in the trunk.

Optimize Your Driving Habits:

• Combine your activities and errands into a single trip.


• Avoid sudden braking and accelerating. Smooth driving can save up to 10% in gas consumption.


• Drive at the speed limit.


• Give yourself extra time and avoid traveling during peak traffic times whenever possible.


• Car pool whenever possible


• Using Cruise control on long trips will give you better mileage.

Make Wise Choices:

• Choose an energy efficient car for your next purchase.


• For short errands, ask yourself whether you need to take the car or can you walk or bike instead.


• Avoid using the car's air conditioner.


• Choose public transportation.

By integrating even a couple of these suggestions into your lifestyle you'll help the environment and your gas budget.

Our Environment and Consumption

In Pursuit of Materialism

We definitely live in a materialistic society. People spend their days working to get more stuff. It's never enough. You need more stuff, better than your neighbor stuff, bigger stuff. Do you ever wonder what you are doing with all the stuff you have? What happens to it once you throw it out? Maybe you don't have enough stuff?

Here is a resource that might enlighten your perspective on things. It's a twenty minute fast paced, informative and entertaining video entitled The Story of Stuff.

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The video goes through the life cycle of stuff from extraction to production, distribution, consumption and finally disposal. Find out what's behind all the materialism that has taken hold of our society and what effect this has on our environment. See what we can do about it by watching The Story of Stuff. On the website you can watch the video directly, download a copy of it and check out an extensive list of resources on recycling, the environment and related topics.

Protect Our Environment With These Simple, Useful Tips

Easy ways to make a difference

If you have ever asked yourself how you can make a difference and help save the environment then here is an answer for you. In fact here are 100 answers.

The SEQL (Sustainable Environment for Quality of Life) organization has put together a handy list of 100 simple things you can do in your everyday life that will help the environment.

They divided the list into categories:

• Home Energy Conservation


• Home Toxicity


• At the Office


• In your yard


• Protecting Our Air Supply


• Conserving Water


• Protecting Water


• Reducing Waste

Here are a few suggestions from the list:

• Lower your thermostat.


• Connect your outdoor lights to a timer.


• Minimize pesticide and herbicide use on your lawn.


• Use an electric lawn mower.


• Copy and print on both sides of the paper.


• Recycle printer cartridges.


• Don't wash dishes with continuously running water.


• Buy items in bulk to reduce packaging material.


• Use rechargeable batteries where possible.

You can see the Complete List of Environmental Protection Tips on the SEQL website which also has a downloadable pdf file.

Peak Oil - Dealing With Our Addiction To Oil

An Interview With Richard Heinberg

Richard Heinberg is a world leading authority on the Peak Oil Theory. Here is a fast paced video that will get you up to speed on the coming oil crisis in just a few minutes.

Richard Heinberg Interview (part 2)

Pesticide Levels In Fruits and Vegetables

Eating fruits and vegetables daily is a healthy lifestyle choice but there is a lurking danger in the produce department.

In an effort to maximize yield and provide a visually appealing product to the consumer pesticides are used at various timees in the growing cycle. These pesticides often remain on the produce and end up being ingested.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) performed extensive testing on produce and came up with a list of fruits and vegetables ordered by pesticide levels from worst to best. Peaches and apples rated the worst with onions and avocados having the least amount of pesticides.

Here is the complete list of produce ranking as developed by the EWG.

1. Peaches (highest pesticide levels)


2. Apples


3. Sweet Bell Peppers


4. Celery


5. Nectarines


6. Strawberries


7. Cherries


8. Lettuce


9. Grapes - Imported


10. Pears


11. Spinach


12. Potatoes


13. Carrots


14. Green Beans


15. Hot Peppers


16. Cucumbers


17. Raspberries


18. Plums


19. Oranges


20. Grapes-Domestic


21. Cauliflower


22. Tangerine


23. Mushrooms


24. Cantaloupe


25. Lemon


26. Honeydew Melon


27. Grapefruit


28. Winter Squash


29. Tomatoes


30. Sweet Potatoes


31. Watermelon


32. Blueberries


33. Papaya


34. Eggplant


35. Broccoli


36. Cabbage


37. Bananas


38. Kiwi


39. Asparagus


40. Sweet Peas-Frozen


41. Mango


42. Pineapples


43. Sweet Corn-Frozen


44. Avocado


45. Onions (lowest pesticide levels)

You can download a printable Wallet Size Pesticide Guide that shows you which produce is on the 12 worst and best list of pesticide levels or View the Complete Set of Test Results.

The EWG makes these three recommendations to limit your exposure to pesticides from produce:

• Vary what you eat to minimize exposure to the worst produce.


• Wash all produce carefully.


• Choose organic whenever possible.

How Big Is Your Country's Carbon Footprint?

When it comes to discussions on the environment, a term that has recently entered the mainstream of conversation is Carbon Footprint. A carbon footprint is the total amount of carbon dioxide that is produced by a person, institution or region over a given time period. The idea is that once you can measure the amount of carbon dioxide produced you can start to develop ways to reduce it.

The website Breathing Earth has an interactive world map showing carbon dioxide emission levels for each country. By simply moving your mouse over a country you'll see the carbon dioxide emission levels as well as birth and death rates for that country. The bottom left corner of the page shows the amount of carbon dioxide emitted since you started looking at the site.

If you are interested in calculating your own personal carbon footprint you can go to the Ecofoot site for a quiz tailored to where you live on the planet. To start the survey move your mouse over the region you live in. A popup menu will appear to let you select your country and language preference.

The Latest Technology in Solar House Design and Construction

Photo Credit: Solar Energy Powered Home

In order to promote development in solar home research the US Department of Energy sponsors a competition to build a functional energy efficient solar house. Twenty university and college teams are selected to compete. This years competition featured 17 US schools as well entries from Canada, Germany and Spain.

Teams are judged on 10 criteria including comfort, architecture and market viability.

You can see all the entries at the Solar Decathlon site including layouts of each house, pictures, videos and a description of the technology used. Each team has a link to a website where the details of that team's entry can be found.

If you're at all interested in solar energy, visit the Solar Decathalon site to get a glimpse of what technology is available and could be a part of your life in the near future.

Bisphenol-A and Bottled Water: The Safe Food and Beverage Container Debate

There is an ongoing debate as to whether plastic water bottles, and many plastics in general, are safe to use for food and liquid storage. One of the major issues centers around the chemical Bisphenol-A. It is used in the production of polycarbonate which is then manufactured into plastic bottles, food storage containers and lining used on the inside of food cans.

Bisphenol-A, an artificial estrogen, can cause adverse affects in people even in low doses. Some of the health issues being looked at include obesity, decreased testosterone, immune system problems, aggressiveness and impaired learning ability.

On most plastic containers (usually on the bottom) you will find a recycling symbol with a number in it. This number tells you what type of material was used to make the item. Knowing the number you can then track down how safe that particular type of plastic is for food and beverage use. You can learn more about what each number means and which ones are safe for food and beverage use by reading the article on Health Risks With Plastic Containers.

More resources relating to plastic safety with food containers and water bottles:

• Concerns With Plastic Safety



• Water Quality and the Bisphenol A Debate

If plastic containers worry you there are alternatives available. Klean Kanteen makes a wide range of plastic free products including sippy cups for children.

How To Deal With A Global Warming Denier

Can you ever have a discussion about global warming without hearing some of these statements?

• Scientists can't agree on what's happening and they should know.


• It's normal to have short term spikes in the weather.


• There are many advantages to a warmer climate.


• As for me, I won't miss the cold winters.


• Why do you think they call it Greenland. It used to be green.

There's always someone that's ready to put forth an arguement, sometimes even a compelling one, against global warming.

If you're confused about the whole global warming debate then you really need to take a look at Coby Beck's great series of articles on How To Talk To A Climate Skeptic. Just be warned. There's well over 100 arguements being made against global warming. Luckily, the series is grouped nicely into categories for easy reference. You'll find rebuttals to "Inadequate Evidence", "No Consensus", "Kyoto is a Waste of Time" and many more.

Driving a Steak Through the Heart of Our Planet

Photo Credit: Angus Beef

Often what we do to help our planet can also benefit us directly. Take beef for example. Numerous studies have shown that there is a detrimental effect on our heallth if we consume large quantities of beef in our diet. Beef production also has a strong negative effect on the planet.

Steven Boyan writes about the effect of beef consumption on our planet in an article entitled How Our Food Choices Can Help Save The Environment. His article has a detailed presentation of the many environmental issues that are involved with beef production. Some of his key points include:

• Raising cattle requires massive amounts of water.


• Topsoil and tropical forests are being destroyed to accommodate beef production.


• Streams and rivers are being polluted unnecessarily.

Next time you're looking for something that's simple and easy to do and is environmentally friendly choose something else instead of steak or hamburger for your meal.

What Can I Do To Help?

Welcome to A Planet Friendly Life. Most people are interested in the environment and eager to contribute but are overwhelmed by the amount of information available. On this site you will find a collection of posts relating to the environment focused on quick simple strategies you can easily introduce into your daily life.