When I walked my dog yesterday, the neighborhood was buzzing with the sounds of machinery. I expected as much. It’s about time for the first mow of the season here, but as I walked around the block, I realized that most of the buzzing was not lawn related. One of my neighbors was powerwashing his driveway. Several others were using leaf blowers.

Driveways are dirty. It’s a fact of life, and it’s okay. When you’re using energy guzzling machinery to do a job, take a minute to question if it’s a necessity.

If dirt on your driveway bugs you, go low tech and use a broom. You won’t waste water, gas, or electricity, and your biceps will get a little workout too. Get creative and try to come up with other low tech solutions for working around the house.