Image by doublej11

We’re talking about positive actions, we’re talking about doing something – something biofriendly, of course. This Sunday is 10/10/10 and broadly recognized as a “Global Day of Doing“.

People from all across the globe are joining together to show they are intent on making a difference. They are intent on reducing their carbon footprint, intent on lowering their emissions, intent on living a “greener” life…you get the idea.

Now, despite the release of a pretty disturbing viral video centered around “blowing people up for climate change”, the overall intention behind 10/10/10 is good. They want to make people aware of what they can do about climate change, educate them on how their daily actions affect the environment around them and then get them to make some changes. It’s all about doing something to make a difference.

I’m all for doing something about climate change. I’m not saying that Mother Nature and Planet Earth don’t have a mind of their own, but I do feel that what we do can make a difference – good or bad. So why not do something to contribute to the survival of the planet? I know I’d rather see more green spaces, less pollution and cleaner air. What about you?

So here are 10 biofriendly actions you can take in recognition of 10/10/10:

1 – Walk instead of drive. This Sunday, itself of driving where you need to go, try walking there. You cut down emissions and get some exercise. Besides, it’s always nice to get outdoors.

2 – Plant a garden. If you missed out on your Summer garden, don’t worry. Now is a great time to start getting prepared for winter. Apartment or not, try growing a few of your own herbs and vegetables. It’s fun and they taste great.

3 – Eat local. Go to your local Farmer’s Market and get some locally grown food. No reason to have food trucked across country when you can get wonderfully tasting, fresh food close to home.

4 – Unplug. Rather than spending the day online or plopped in front of the TV, why don’t you unplug for the day. Spend time with family, go out for a walk. Find something to do that doesn’t require you to be plugged in all day.

5 – Do some Spring Cleaning in the Fall. Many of us probably have a lot more “stuff” than we actually need. Try cleaning house a bit then donate the stuff you don’t use anymore.

6 – Recycle. If you haven’t started recycling, get yourself a recycling bin and start. Even a paper bag can be used to collect recyclables.

7 – Attend a already planned 10:10 event.

8 – Register your own event for 10/10/10. Nothing says you can’t start your own event and you should!

9 – Educate your kids/family about the different steps they can take to curb their negative impact on the environment. But more importantly, educate them on what they can do to help better the environment around them.

10 – Simply clean up. Go to your local park, beach or even just walk around your neighborhood and clean up. It’s a simple action that will not only make an immediate improvement, but will remind others to clean up too.

There are so many things each of us can do. For a few more biofriendly ideas, take a look at this video and see what other people are doing on 10/10/10. I’d love to hear what your ideas are for 10/10/10 too – what are you doing?

10:10:10 A GLOBAL DAY OF DOING from 10:10 on Vimeo.

When you hear someone talk about biofriendly driving they aren’t just referring to lowering your emissions or saving money. Biofriendly driving is about doing what you can to lower the “footprint” you are leaving as a result of you driving in the first place.

Now, someone who drives to work is obviously going to emit more emissions than someone who rides their bike or car-pools to work. And, of course, someone who drives a hybrid is going to emit less emissions than a gas-guzzling co-worker. But what’s the difference in terms of environmental impact and are there specific driving tips that can help lower that impact?

1) First tip, before you buy a new vehicle, do a comparison. Take a look at key points including cost of the vehicle, MPG, cost of fuel, estimated fuel consumption (don’t forget to factor in savings if you use a good fuel additive), carbon footprint, EPA air pollution score and more.

Fueleconomy.gov has a great comparison tool where you can see all this information at a glance. Take a look at the difference between a 2010 Ford Fusion, a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and a 2010 Ford Fusion FFV (Flex-fuel vehicle).

2) Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving actually wastes gas. Driving sensibly can improve your fuel economy between 5-30% on average. It also helps lower the wear and tear on your brakes and tires. There is no reason to rapidly accelerate if you know you are going to have to slam on the brakes a moment later.

3) Follow the rules of the road. Speeding, running red lights, not paying attention to pedestrians, texting while driving, etc are all things that will adversely affect not just you but people around you. This simple tip can save time, gas, money and lives.

You don’t want to be a Mr. Wheeler…

4) I’ve said it many times before, but if you are going to drive please ensure you keep your vehicle properly maintained. Getting regular oil changes, rotating your tires and ensuring they are properly inflated, checking fluid levels, basic maintenance, etc. all help extend the life of your vehicle. Proper maintenance also cuts down on repair costs.

Using the correct oil can also help you save money and improve gas mileage. Did you know there are even “Energy Conserving” oils? But don’t be fooled, even though oils with that designation have passed tests showing the oil has the ability to conserve energy, the API states “…a particular vehicle operator may not experience a fuel savings as a result of using these oils.” Doesn’t say it won’t help, but you might want to check your owner’s manual.

5) When traveling long distances, try using your cruise control. Maintaining a constant speed can sometimes help save gas. Using your cruise control also can help keep your legs from getting sore on a long trip.

6) Drive less. It may sound like a funny way to drive, but driving less saves you money, gas and save on the harmful emissions your vehicle releases into the environment. I don’t mean you have to sit at home. Walk to your destinations. Ride your bike. Car-pool or ride-share. Take public transportation.

Try it….leave your vehicle at home one day a week and see what a difference it can make.

7) Tap into your GPS navigation. People who use their GPS to figure out where they are going ahead of time, typically spend less time on the road and less time looking for their intended destination. Saves time, money and frustration.

For those of you who are looking for more, you might want to check out a backseat smart driver:

Do you have any biofriendly driving tips that help you save? I’d love to hear them. Remember, drive safe and drive smart!