Here’s a simple way to improve your car’s efficiency in less than a minute per month. Low pressure in your car’s tires can decrease your fuel efficiency by about 3 percent. A simple pressure gauge can read your tire’s pressure, and your owner’s manual will tell you what pressure your car’s manufacturer recommends. Usually, your tire pressure will be just fine. But every few months you’ll need to add a little air, which you can do from an air pump at the gas station the next time you fill up.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

When filling up at the gas station, avoid the temptation to “top off” the fuel tank when the pump automatically clicks off to indicate that your tank is full. Many of us top off to round up a gas purchase to the closest dollar, but you risk overfilling your tank and spilling gas. In the summer months, the heat can turn spilled gas into vapor, creating airborne chemicals like benzene. These contaminants pollute the air and can end up in your respiratory system.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Many of us are looking for alternatives to paraffin candles because they are petroleum-based and can add pollutants to the air when burned. One natural alternative -- palm oil -- may seem like a greener choice because it’s completely plant-based. But it’s not sustainable. Most palm oil (which is from the palm tree) is grown on clear-cut land that was once rainforest. This old, diverse rainforest land is home to endangered animal species. It’s best to avoid palm oil altogether to help preserve at-risk rainforest land from deforestation.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION