7/6/09

Fill up on gas at night, not during the day. In the summertime, cooler air means fewer fumes escaping from the gas pumps. These harmful gases contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer. If you absolutely, positively need gas during the day, try to find a gas station with a rubberized, fume-capturing device on the nozzle.

7/5/09

If you need to water the lawn or outdoor plants, do it at sundown. Watering the plants at night is the most ecological method, since there is no sun to evaporate the water immediately. If you have automatic sprinklers, set the timer to water the lawn at night. Not only does this save water, but the plants and lawn will get a proper soaking, too, and will thrive.

7/4/09

Celebrating Independence Day at the beach? Consider using non-disposable containers when bringing lunch with you. Chinese stacking tins keep sandwiches, pickles and cookies organized and separate from each other. (Pickles and chocolate chip cookies together? Yuck!) And these are easy to carry with a click-in handle on top. Check out www.pearlriver.com for a selection of lunch boxes you can use over and over again.