According to The Green Team at the National Zoo, if you leave your car at home and bike just two days a week you’ll cut your greenhouse gas emissions by 1,600 pounds a year.

So, pull your bike out of the garage, give it a tune up, and pedal your way to work, or even just commit to cutting out a few car trips a week by taking your bike instead.

Don’t forget your helmet!

No-dig-vegetablegarden.com has a great idea for keeping potted plants hydrated.

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You could shower with a friend to conserve water. Remember those commercials?

Or you could keep a bucket in the shower to collect water that would otherwise go down the drain. Use the water to water plants, or the lawn, or mop the floor.

A bucket isn’t as much fun as a buddy, but in the end, you’ll probably save more water.

Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.

A few weeks ago, I posted a review of Ecover’s Delicate Wash. I’m still in love with it. I’ve been washing a lot of clothes by hand just to have an excuse to use it.

So when Ali7 commented about how much she likes their dishwashing liquid, I knew I had to give it a try. She’s right. Ecover Herbal Dishwashing Liquid is “brilliant.”

A little goes a long way. The directions say that one squirt will clean a whole sink full of dirty dishes. It has a soft marigold scent and actually feels soothing on hands. It cuts grease and leaves dishes squeaky clean.

And the best part – it’s plant based, completely biodegradable, and won’t leave any chemical residue on your hands.

Look for Ecover products in your local grocery store, or buy here.

Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.

Hang your clothes out on a clothes line the way your grandmother used to. You’ll save energy and you’ll be surprised how fast clothes will dry on a sunny day.

If you have pollen allergies and can’t leave your clothes out to dry, hang them on the shower rod, or get an indoor drying rack.

If you do use your electric or gas dryer to dry your laundry, follow these tips from NRDC:

• Clean the lint filter in the dryer after each use.
• Dry heavy and light fabrics separately
  
• Don’t add wet items to a load that’s already partly dry.
• If available, use the moisture sensor setting.

Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.

Depending on the kind of toilet you have, you use between five and seven gallons of water every time you flush.

Fill a jar or bottle with water (you can also use a brick) and place it in your toilet tank. This will take up space in the tank and trigger the water refill to stop sooner, so you’ll use less water every time you flush.

Make sure what ever you use to fill the space doesn’t come into contact with the flushing mechanism. Flush once or twice while the lid is still off and watch to make sure everything still works.

If you suspect that your toilet leaks water into the bowl between flushes, put food coloring in the tank. Wait awhile (don’t flush!) and see if the dye reaches the water in the bowl. If it does, you have a leak. You’ll need to call a plumber or study up on do-it-your-self books.

If you’re shopping for a new toilet, make sure it’s low flow.

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A few weeks ago, we talked about making your coffee eco-friendly. If you’re a tea drinker, like me, here’s a few ideas.Opt for organically grown, fair trade teas, like Rishi-Tea’s Citron Oolong, Steenberg’s Darjeeling, or my favorite, Republic of Tea’s Lapsang Souchong.

Buy tea in loose leaf form, not in the bag, and get a tea brewing basket, an infuser ball, pot, or spoon, or a bamboo infuser. You’ll cut down on waste significantly.

And, to really green things up, get an efficient electric tea pot like the Eco-Kettle, with side window and cup lines so you don’t waste energy boiling more water than you need.

Enjoy!

Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.

According to The Green Guide, every year in the US close to a billion trees worth of paper ends up in the trash.

Do your part to conserve. The Green Guide recommends paying your bills online to cut down on paper. Many banks even have incentives for using their online payment systems.

As an added bonus, you’ll save on postage too!

Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.

Planning your summer vacation?

Before you book a hotel room, check websites like EnvironmentallyFriendlyHotels.com and ResponsibleTravel.com to see if there’s an eco-friendly option at your destination.

Looking for a B&B? Check out BedandBreakfast.com to find one that’s green.

Being green doesn’t have to mean staying in a yurt (although it can if you want it to). Do a little research, stay in luxury, and reduce the impact.

Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.

How many cell phones have you been through since you got your first one? I think I’m on my fifth. And I think I can probably dig through a few boxes and come up with all of them. What are you supposed to do with all of those phones?

Don’t throw them out! Bring them to a recycling drop off point, or an organization that refurbishes phones to give to a good cause.

Go to Earth911 and enter your zip code to find recycling and donation centers near you. Your old cell phones can go to our troops, women in domestic violence situations, or people in nursing homes. Many organizations also use funds generated from recycling the parts.

Before you turn your phone in, make sure the phone is no longer on a service plan, erase any information you’ve stored (phone numbers, pin numbers, etc.), and remove the SIM card (if there is one).

Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.

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