Tip of the Week

How to deal with gasly petroleum prices

Gas prices hit an all-time high of $3.61 on May 1--and then kept climbing! One week into the month, the average price was up to $3.671 a gallon. That's 20 percent more than drivers were paying this time last year. Drivers in New York have been hit even harder, paying an average of $3.813 for a gallon of regular, and in California it's costing drivers $3.921 a gallon to fill the tank! As the cost of oil becomes more and more prohibitive, getting more mileage to the gallon is essential. For those of us who aren't positioned to rush out and buy a hybrid this week, here are a few tips that will help your vehicle run more efficiently.

• Replace clogged air filters. A clogged air filter can cut a vehicles fuel efficiency by 10 percent.
• Check the air pressure on your tires and inflate any that are lower than the pressure recommended in the owner's manual. AccuTire's Programmable Tire Gauge ($19.95; www.properautocare.com) remembers the proper air pressure for you so can avoid pulling out the manual every time you check. Properly inflated tires can increase fuel efficiency by 3.3 percent.
• Slow down. For most vehicles, fuel efficiency begins to drop rapidly at 60 mph. Driving within the speed limit can improve fuel efficiency by up to 23 percent.
• Take it easy. Slamming on the brakes and accelerating too quickly can reduce fuel efficiency up to 33 percent.
• Get a tune-up. Routine maintenance can up fuel efficiency by 4 percent, while fixing more serious problems can improve efficiency up to 40 percent.

Fuel Economy has even more fuel-saving tips, but the best way to save fuel is to simply avoid using it. If it's an option, consider walking or getting around by bike during these warmer months. Check out Shifting Gears: 12 Tips on Moving From the Fast Lane to the Bike Lane to help get you in gear.

© The Green Guide, 2008

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Better Blooms for Mother's Day

Most of the cut flowers we shower our mothers with on Mother's Day are imported from Colombia, Ecuador and the Netherlands. While exotic presents from faraway lands are always a success with Mom, when it comes to flowers, you're better off picking local and organic blooms.

Not only does transporting Mom's roses from Colombia to her kitchen table waste energy, but flower farmers abroad often have the leeway to spray their crop with pesticides banned in the U.S. for being associated with health hazards ranging from respiratory illness to cancer. Those chemicals certainly harm the health of the agricultural workers exposed to them, but they can also linger on petals, adding a toxic touch to the centerpiece.

So don't forget to bring your mom flowers, if she likes them, but bring her a local bunch. Check out Local Harvest for farmers in your area. And if you have to send her your love from another state, go with an organic delivery service like Diamond Organics or California Organic Flowers that carry USDA certified organic arrangements grown in the U.S. Even better, look for flowers with VeriFlora's sustainably grown certification which also ensures that the farm employs fair labor practices. Visit Veri Flora for retailers.

See Make Mom's Day for more Mother's Day tips.

© The Green Guide, 2008

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Cell Preservation

I can't seem to go an hour without my cell before panic sets in, and lately my battery seems to be losing the ability to hold juice. So I've taken to carrying the charger around with me, asking for an outlet in some of the most inappropriate places, like restaurants and shoe stores. If only I had known when my battery was new about the precautions that would help preserve its life. Unfortunately, there's no bouncing back for a worn-down battery, so I'll likely be replacing mine before long, adding it to the expanding cell phone parts and accessories waste stream (130 million cell phones and their batteries were tossed in 2005), but here are a few tips to help save your cell phone battery from a similar fate.

1. Stop charging overnight! The longer a battery is charging, the longer it's exposed to heat, which can wear it down. Most cell phone batteries fully charge in under two hours, so as soon as all bars have been restored, unplug your phone. And while you're at it, unplug the charger, which constantly drains power even when it's not juicing up your phone (see"Carbon Pincher").

2. All heat sources--not just the charger--can damage the battery, so whenever possible, keep your phone out of the heat. Put it in your pocket instead of on the picnic table on hot days. Avoid parking it on the dashboard of your vehicle.

3. Adjust to power-saving settings. Lighting the screen drains the most battery power, so cut the LCD brightness down as far as you can without causing eye strain, and, if your eyes can take it, turn down the backlight setting so that it dims in just a few seconds.

4. During periods when you'd rather not be bothered, like in the movie theater or while sleeping, turn the phone off completely.

And keep in mind that power is draining whenever the phone is in use, even if it's not for a phone call, so only play Tetris when you absolutely have to.

And if you're looking for a new provider, see "How To Green Your Lip Service."

© The Green Guide, 2008

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