Last year the average U.S household spent close to $5,500 on automobile expenses (gasoline, repairs, parking, tolls, etc.). Some cities averaged as high as $10,000 per household. With Americans confined to their vehicles for about 5% of their time, these aren’t exactly what you’d call biofriendly expenses.

Image by The Infamous Gdub

It’s surprising the number of motorists who aren’t aware of or don’t follow some of the basic driving tips that could save them time, money, gasoline, lower their vehicle’s emissions, etc.

Some people are smart and try to avoid those hefty expenses as much as they can by opting for public transportation. Did you know it has even been reported that using public transportation is better for your weight and overall health? It also is a good way to travel without having to deal with the frustration so often associated with traffic and road rage.

But if you don’t live or work in an area with a good public transportation system, then you will definitely want to make sure you make the most of your drive. Therefore, I suggest you try to avoid these 10 not so biofriendly motorist mistakes in order to help you get on your way:

1 – Leaving the vehicle idling: There is no reason to leave your vehicle idling (unless you are stuck in traffic of course). You don’t waste gas by turning your vehicle off and back on again. You will definitely lower your emissions though and more than likely save money rather than let it idle away.

2 – Ignoring regular maintenance: Regular maintenance on your vehicle is key. Keeping your vehicle maintained will help ensure it runs better, keep your engine clean and can also help lower harmful emissions. A properly maintained vehicle also tends to break down less thus saving you money on unexpected repair costs. A proven fuel additive is always a plus too…Green Plus®.

3 – Rapid starts and stops: Don’t race off as soon as the light turns green only to slam on your brakes for the next red light. Your fuel economy will be better with a gradual start/stop and you won’t put as much wear and tear on your tires, brakes, etc.

4 – Keeping lots of “stuff” in your vehicle: Unless you are going on a trip, why keep your vehicle filled with stuff you don’t need? All it does it load the vehicle down and cause the engine to work harder due to the added weight.

Image by tylertate

5 – Not checking tire pressure: Properly inflated tires also play a roll in fuel economy. Correctly inflated tires can reduce your fuel usage by up to 3-4%. Tip: most vehicles have a sticker on the door to let you know the proper tire pressure.

6 – Not planning ahead: Planning ahead and consolidating mutual trips saves in many ways. Also, if you know you are going to need to run errands, don’t do so during rush hour traffic.

7 – Speeding: Gas mileage usually starts decreasing when you get to around 60 mph. Figure it this way….”each 5mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.24 per gallon for gas“. So, slow down.

Image via fueleconomy.gov

8 – Not taking advantage of GPS: I know many men (and some women) don’t like to ask for directions, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use your GPS. Taking advantage of your GPS is also a smart way to save gasoline, not to mention time. Plug in your destination and let your GPS help you with the fastest route as well as avoid delays and unnecessary idling.

9 – Ignoring or overusing your cruise control: Cruise control is a great thing, but if you don’t use it properly it isn’t going to help you when you drive. Cruise control is perfect for relatively flat terrain. It keeps your vehicle at a steady speed and maintains it. Using cruise control while traveling through the hills/mountains will cause you to speed up a lot faster than if you were stepping on the gas yourself.

10 – Keeping your windows down: This one is kind of a toss up in my book. Keeping your windows up helps make your vehicle more aerodynamic, but having your A/C on all the time can lower the air quality in your vehicle. So, I guess it’s a personal preference.

Image by Vagabond Shutterbug

Now, I’m not saying that you will dramatically reduce your fuel economy or immediately save hundreds in automobile expenses just by avoiding these mistakes. I am saying that you might want to take note and make a few adjustments in your driving if you are making any of these not so biofriendly motorist mistakes.

If you have any personal tips that help you drive a little more biofriendly, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment and let me know. If it works for you, I’m sure others can benefit from it as well.

Image by TomJByrne

Life isn’t always cut out the way we think it should be. But that doesn’t mean we can’t make the most out of it, right?! As Eleanor Roosevelt so aptly stated: “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” So, with that in mind…here are some simple biofriendly tips for life and living:

1) Don’t regret the past: Regardless of whether or not you’ve made mistakes in your life (which I’m sure we all have), don’t regret what you’ve done in your past. The things you did in the past are part of what made you who you are today.

Learn from your past and use it to help improve your future. You will find that today, tomorrow and many tomorrows will be better for it.

Image by vladeb

2) Get outside daily: Even if it is just for 15-20 minutes a day, take the time to get outside. Smell the fresh air, get some sun on your skin (Vitamin D, you know). Look at the beauty of nature around you. Who knows, it might even inspire you.

3) Eat locally grown foods or better yet, grow some of your own: You hear it said all the time. So what’s holding you back? It is probably easier than you think.

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Besides, it doesn’t matter why you want to do it…whether it’s because it is a biofriendly or environmentally-friendly thing to do or because you want to save money or maybe because you realize how great freshly picked food tastes. Fresh fruits, herbs, vegetables, etc. are great for you too. They can be a healthy snack or a smart addition to a well-balanced meal.

4) Cut down on your transportation emissions: Are you aware how much smog and harmful emissions can affect you? Plus, who wants to be breathing in harmful toxins? I know I don’t.

Image by biofriendly

An easy way to reduce your exposure to these harmful transportation emissions is by cutting down your driving time. Car-pool or ride-share whenever you can. Take public transportation where available. Use a proven fuel additive to further reduce your vehicles emissions and improve your fuel economy. Walk or ride your bike around town. Talk to your office about telecommuting. Have video conferences rather than requiring employees to travel long distances for a company conference or meeting.

5) Get up and get moving: As Sir Isaac Newton taught us as part of his first law of motion: “Every object persists in its state of rest…unless it is compelled to change that state by forces impressed on it.”

Well, the same applies to your body. You don’t want to be stuck in a continuous state of rest, therefore you need to get moving. Regular exercise such as walking, bike riding, hiking, swimming, playing sports, etc. is a great way to get moving and keep fit.

6) Buy less, save more: We can’t measure our success in life by how much we own. Some people may try to do that, but life isn’t about “stuff”. I mean seriously, how much stuff do you already own that you rarely use? When was the last time you cleaned out your closets or garage?

Image by E. Bartholomew

Measure your life by what you have accomplished or by how many lives you have touched. The kind words, the helping hand, the smile when someone was feeling down are often a lot more valuable and more memorable than you can imagine.

7) Live life: Every person’s life is worth living…every moment and every breathe. Don’t let one moment pass you by.

While you’ve probably heard that many times in your life, let me tell you there is nothing that makes that point clearer than watching your children grow up. Every moment is precious. Every experience worth having. Nothing is small or insignificant.

Image by Dy Zach Photoworks

When it all comes down to biofriendly living, recognize the life all around you. Be smart and respect that life, care for the people and things that have a positive impact on your life and create the kind of life you want. You are the only one who can.

Image by Constantin B.

With all the information that comes across your plate during a typical week (hmmm…does anyone really have a typical week?!), how are you supposed to remember it all. It’s sometimes hard to sort through everything or even remember some of the educational, green, informative and/or purely entertaining data you came across.

That’s part of why I decided it would be good to do a ‘weekly greens’ to share just a few of the posts I came across during the week. Now, for this ‘weekly greens’ post I also wanted to share a few videos that were recently brought to my attention. I hope you enjoy.

So…onto the ‘weekly greens’:

1 - The Healing Effects of Forests: If you’ve ever spent any time in nature, I’m sure you’ve noticed that it truly does seem to have healing effects. You can almost be swallowed up in its beauty. It can even seem to wash all your troubles away.

So if you are in need of some natural healing, maybe it would be a good idea to go spend the afternoon checking out a local forest. Take your family and go for a walk in the woods.

Image by photo.jhassy

2 – Ocean Voices (Audio): A moving audio presentation about oceans and what oceans really mean to us. Simply put…it is worth the listen.

3 - Play It Safe in the Pool: When it comes to a warm…okay HOT, Summer day there is nothing quite as refreshing as spending some time in the pool. But in order to ensure you and your family have an enjoyable time, you should be aware of some basic safety tips.

4- Do Solar Panels Work in Fog?: Good question, right?! Well, you’ll be happy to know that even if you live in an area plagued by fog, you too can benefit from the use of solar panels.

Image by Traveling Mermaid/CharlotteAsh

5- Grow Your Own Home: Yes, that’s what I said…grow your own home. This one definitely caught my attention as even though it is completely unconventional, how cool would it be to grow your house?

6 - Chemerical: You might be familiar with the film “Garbage! The Revolution Starts at Home”. Well, Chemerical is the lastest film from Environmental Activist and Documentary Filmmaker Andrew Nisker. It’s geared around enlightening and educating people about the toxic chemicals they have in their homes.

So far over 7000 toxic products have been removed from homes since the release of Chemerical. You can see the trailer below and if you want to view the entire DVD, just go to the Take Action Films store. Use the code 20TA10 and you’ll get 20% off the purchase of a DVD.

7 - Sitting Down Too Much Can Lead to Your Early Death: Hopefully you’ll read this one in the spirit it is being presented…stop sitting down so much and get active! Personally, when I read this one I almost immediately stood up and now spend part of my day working on my computer at my raised kitchen counter. Yes – standing up.

To wrap up my ‘weekly greens’ I want to call your attention to Summer: A Public Service Announcement. Whatever you do, please don’t let Summer pass you by. Trust me, you won’t want to miss it!

Remember to send me your interesting, informative and green posts. I’d love to read them and you never know, yours may be included in my next ‘weekly greens’. Have a truly biofriendly weekend!