nhayssen's blog

Shop Locally
By shopping close to home, your car trips will be shorter, so you'll use less gas and save time. You may even be able to get to some stores on foot or by public transportation.

Consider shopping at a nearby farmer's market and at stores that use local suppliers. That way you'll be supporting your local economy and reducing the number of heavy trucks traveling long distances.

If you live in Sonoma County make sure to visit the Wednesday Night Farmer's Market in downtown Santa Rosa during the summer months. Sebastopol has a great farmers market with yummy organic fruits and vegetables every Sunday.. right across the street from Whole Foods.

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Walk or Cycle
Your own two feet or a bicycle are options for distances under three miles. The benefits are multiple: no emissions whatsoever, no traffic jams to deal with, and no parking worries—as well as a healthier you! Be sure to follow bicycle safety rules.

Motorcycles, electric bikes, and scooters can carry you longer distances, using fewer resources than your car

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Work from Home
So many jobs are computer-based these days; telecommuting has become a no-brainer. If you can do your job from home, arrange with your boss to do so at least one day per week. Many companies are beginning to recognize the value of this arrangement.

Workers typically get a lot more done on their days at home, since interruptions are minimized. They also start work right on time, and they don't have to quit early to get home in time for the kids.

NEWS ALERT!
Zap! is now hiring people for our Blogging project. If you love to write and have a passion for environmental concerns and electric cars you might be the perfect fit!

You may "work from home" by tele-commuting.

Call 707-525-8658 if you are interested and ask for Nancy ... that's me :)

Take Public Transportation
If you are lucky enough to have public transportation available, take advantage of it as much as you can. You may find that you can even do without a car.

If the bus schedule is spotty, or there is no public transportation in your neck of the woods, you may want to raise the issue with your state representatives. After all, it's your tax dollars that make public transportation possible. The more people request it and use it, the better it will be.

When traveling a long distance, consider taking a bus or train, instead of flying.

Provided by: http://life.familyeducation.com

Is global warming on your mind? Would you like to spend less money on gasoline? Go green with your car by following these tips to minimize your car use and save fuel.

Try Carpooling
Find one or more carpool partners for a daily commute, and take turns driving. If you think it's a hassle to pick up and drop off other people, consider that there will be days when someone else is driving and you can just sit back, relax, and chat—or snooze!

There's less wear and tear on you and your car, and less fuel used overall.

To find a partner, post a notice at your place of work. If you get no response, try posting a notice at other businesses nearby, or at your local supermarket.

Provided by: http://life.familyeducation.com