When it is hot outside try to park your vehicle in a shady spot. This will help you save on fuel in 2 different ways.

The first is the obvious of keeping your vehicle cooler, which means you’ll run your air conditioner less, resulting in a substantial savings. The second is that it helps decrease the amount of fuel lost to evaporation. That’s because gasoline evaporates rapidly, even escapes from a closed tank, plus the whole process is sped up by high temperatures.

So on those hot hot summer days…seek out that shady spot in the parking lot & you’ll save!

Clean your microwave with a natural homemade cleaner. It’s simple & easy…Just mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda or lemon juice and 1 cup of water in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave the mixture for about five minutes or until the liquid boils and condensation builds up on the inside of the microwave. Wipe down & presto…Your microwave is as good as new!

Live Green by cleaning Green!

The best time to water your garden is usually in the morning to maximize the efficiency of water used. This is because mornings tend to be cool, without strong winds, so the amount of water lost to evaporation is much less, than it would be during the day when it is hotter. What about the evening your say? Well, the evening is typically cooler like the morning, but plants then can stay damp over night and are more likely to be damaged by fungal and bacterial diseases.

Improve your home’s indoor air quality by installing HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters.

Ordinary disposable fiberglass filters (that are in most homes) were designed to remove the largest particles from the air, with the goal of protecting your heating equipment, not your lungs. They trap only 10% to 40% of the debris passing through them. A HEPA filter, on the other hand, can remove at least 99.97% of airborne particles. These filters are made of randomly arranged fibers and are based on Department of Energy standards.

HEPA filters will help cut down on allergens & dust in your home, helping you & your family breath a little easier.

When cooking smaller meals, save energy & time by using a microwave or a toaster oven rather than heating up your full-size oven.

Use a nontoxic, natural bug spray instead of a chemical sprays to help protect your family and wildlife from the harmful effects of toxic insecticides. There are many nontoxic, natural bug sprays available for sale. Products containing either a soap solution or a citrus-oil based solution are good choices.

California Baby’s Natural Bug Blend Bug Repellent Spray is a great natural spray to your fight against bug bites! It’s a safe and natural alternative to toxic bug repellent chemicals, Citronella, lemongrass and cedar do not cause harm to humans, pets or the environment. The DEET free natural formula repels bugs such as fleas, mosquitoes, ticks and biting flies. California Baby Natural Bug Spray does double duty helping to soothe existing bites with herbs that are specific to the healing of the skin. California Baby uses only the finest quality, traditionally recommended oils that are safe, gentle, and effective. California Baby’s essential oils are guaranteed pesticide free and sustainably grown.

Before stashing your dinner leftovers in the fridge, let them cool to room temperature. This will keep the fridge from working overtime to chill them out & save you money on your energy bill.

Taking off your shoes at the door is not only a polite custom, but it also prevents you from tracking in unwanted dirt, pesticides, & other nasty toxins from the outdoors into your home.

Keep your family healthy by getting a doormat for outside your front door & an entryway rug for inside your home. This will help to collect the undesirable toxins & dirt that are tracked in and prevent these substances from migrating throughout your house.

The water we use outside eventually flows to streams and lakes, so be careful and think about what you are sending.

Never dump chemicals outside into the street drain. And always wash your car at a car wash to keep soapy water & oily dirt from running down the driveway and into the street drain.

Earth Day is this Wednesday…Let’s Recycle!

Here are the top 5 ways to celebrate Earth Day 2009!

1- Pick up trash.
2- Change lights to CFL bulbs.
3- Unplug chargers not in use.
4- Install a low-flow showerhead.
5- Reuse something in a new way instead of throwing it out.