Recent Green Weeks:
September 5:
Cook More Efficiently
August 29:
Use Cold Water for Laundry
August 22:
Find New Uses for Old Phones
August 8:
"Bee" Kind to Pollinators: Limit or Avoid Pesticide Use
August 1:
Reduce Waste: End Junk Mail!
July 25:
Encourage Pollination: Help Bees!
July 18:
Use Less Oil: Walk or Bike at Least Once this Week Instead of Driving
July 11:
Water Lawns and Outdoor Plants in the Morning or Evening Only
July 4:
Practice Safe Souvenir Buying
June 20:
Reuse Paper Scraps
June 13:
Safely Dispose of Hazardous Wastes
June 6:
Give New Life to Old Stuff
May 30:
Make Your Own Non-Toxic Cleaners
May 23:
Find Ways to Consume Less
May 16:
Reuse your food scraps and yard waste: make compost!
May 9:
Make Sure Your Seafood's Sustainable
May 2:
Use a Low Flow Showerhead
April 25:
Reduce Weight in your Vehicle
April 18:
Use a Reusable Water Bottle
April 11:
Switch to Fluorescent Bulbs
April 4:
Buy in Bulk
March 28:
Unplug Your Appliances When They're Not in Use!
March 21:
Turn Off Your Engine Instead of Idling Your Car
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Use Less Oil: Walk or Bike at Least Once this Week Instead of Driving
What to do:
After months of the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico, oil is on everyone's mind these days. The spill has caused a heated debate about
drilling techniques, safety, and the future of offshore drilling. The full implications of the spill remain to be seen, but one general principle remains
clear: to reduce the environmental consequences of getting and consuming oil, we need to find ways to use less oil.
In light of this, try riding a bike or walking somewhere at least one time this week when you otherwise would have driven.
Why it Helps the Earth:
Obviously, the less you run your car, the less gas it uses. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, burning a
gallon of gasoline emits 19.4 lbs.
of carbon dioxide. So, a year of driving causes many thousands of pounds of Co2 emissions.
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And as we have seen this spring, consuming oil is not the only threat to the environment. Drilling for and transporting oil has risks of its own.
What the Research Says:
FuelEconomy.gov's Oil Spills page provides an overview of how much oil is spilled in the US during a typical year and provides links to various reports and data about oil spills.
Why it Helps You:
If you make a habit of riding and walking, the fuel savings will eventually begin to add up. Furthermore, although riding or walking does take more time—unless you usually spend a lot of time stuck in traffic or looking for parking—it also doubles as exercise. Go green and stay fit at the same time!
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Last Revision: July 18, 2010