It’s believed that people in the city of Los Angeles waste about 100 hours every year sitting in traffic, on average. Even worse than lost time, transportation is now the No. 1 source of carbon pollution in the United States, with much of it coming from cars and gridlock traffic. To cut down on traffic waste, avoid driving during peak hours whenever possible. Plan errands like grocery shopping and appointments before lunch or after lunch (before the evening commute times). And make use of smartphone apps to plan your drive; an app can suggest times that are less busy and routes that will make your drive quicker and more fuel-efficient.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you hate standing in lines, here’s a fast and eco-friendly way to get your postal supplies sent right to your home. You can order things like postage stamps, envelopes, boxes and other supplies from the United States Postal Service website, and then your postal worker brings everything you bought directly to your home. Since the post office is working six days a week delivering mail, they’re going to be in your neighborhood anyway. This is a fast and easy way to get what you need and have it delivered without extra fuel being wasted to bring it to you.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

As the hot summer days turn cooler, trees shed their leaves in preparation for cooler temps. While a leaf blower is an easy way to manage fallen leaves, it isn’t very kind to the planet; it’s believed that gas-powered leaf blowers can emit as much pollution as cars. Clearly, a manual rake is the greenest option. But for many people, raking isn’t always the most doable solution, so try the next-best thing: an electric leaf blower. They don’t generate any emissions, are generally quieter and are now cordless, which makes them a breeze to use.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION