Go Greener Tips

div class=image style=float:right;padding-left:8px;img alt=Woman at Farmer’s Market / iStockPhoto height=300 src=http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/the_conscious_consumer/the_conscious_consumer-215610443-1242850176.jpg?ymBefSBDWYoxW6Tq width=200//divpRising temperatures are a reminder that summer is just around the corner. It’s true that the costs of travel, hosting backyard barbecues, and staying cool can all add up. But you don’t have to spend a fortune to get out and have some summer fun./ppJust keep these cash-saving tips in mind as you make your plans. And in this case, there’s an added bonus because what’s good for your wallet is also good for the planet./ppstrongTravel at off-peak times./strong Flying at less crowded times is not only a great way to save money on a plane ticket, but it can be less of a hassle, according to a new a href=http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles/solutions/cleaner_cars_pickups_and_suvs/greentravel/getting-there-greener.htmlUnion of Concerned Scientists’ travel guide/a, which is chock full of many useful tips. Chances are you won’t hit traffic going to the airport (so you’ll save money on gas), and you’ll experience fewer delays (which can waste fuel and produce even more carbon pollution). /ppOff-peak also applies to car travel, says Aaron Huertas, at UCS. With less traffic on the road, you can maximize your miles-per-gallon by avoiding traffic jams./ppstrongShop at the local farmer’s market./strong There’s a long list of reasons why it’s a good idea to eat local foods that are in season. They are fresher, taste better, and don’t need to travel as far as the produce in a typical grocery store. Buying directly from a local farmer often costs less. And replacing packaged foods with fruits and veggies is also better for your pocketbook, a href=http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/organic-food-tips-47-040801your health, and the planet’s/a. Find nearby farmers’ markets at a href=http://www.localharvest.org/LocalHarvest/a. Find out a href=http://www.nrdc.org/health/foodmiles/what’s in season/a where you live right now, and a href=http://green.yahoo.com/blog/daily_green_cheapskate/5/learn-to-cut-your-food-bill-25.htmlget more tips/a for cutting your food bill./ppstrongFind creative ways to stay cool./strong Movies are a common escape when temperatures rise because of the allure of free air-conditioning. But the price of movie tickets (and snacks) can add up quickly. Consider spending some time at the library reading your favorite magazines and books (for free) while soaking up the cool air. Or find out when nearby museums offer free or reduced admission. a href=http://green.yahoo.com/blog/the_conscious_consumer/14/how-to-program-your-thermostat.htmlTurn your AC up/a to 78 degrees when you’re at home and raise it even more when you’re out or sleeping./ppstrongLine dry clothes./strong Summer is the perfect time to give your dryer a break. It’s better for your clothing (which will likely last longer if you’re not constantly over-drying it) and your wallet (since a href=http://green.yahoo.com/blog/amorylovins/22/nine-no-cost-ways-to-reduce-your-home-energy-use.htmlyou’ll save around $43.60/a by air dying your clothes for the entire season)./pstrongVisit yard sales instead of going to the mall./strong It’s cheaper to buy used stuff, and it’s better for the environment since it keeps perfectly good things out of landfills and resources aren’t needed to make new products from scratch. Better yet, turn your trash into a treasure by hosting your own garage sale. It’s a great way to earn extra cash for even more fun summer activities and get rid of all the clutter you’ve accumulated.p /ppemEnvironmental journalist Lori Bongiorno shares green-living tips and product reviews with Yahoo! Green’s users. Send Lori a a href=http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/green/forms/consciousconsumerblog.htmlquestion or suggestion/a for potential use in a future column. Her book,/em Green Greener Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-smart Choices a Part of Your Life emis available on a href=http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Green%2C%20Greener%2C%20Greenest%3A%20A%20Practical%20Guide%20to%20Making%20Eco-Smart%20Choices%20a%20Part%20of%20Your%20Life:3005209514;_ylt=AsLkIJyzfMD4G3Gl2OYYt_gbFt0A?clink=dmps/lori_bongiorno/ctx=mid:1,pid:3005209514,pdid:1,pos:1,spc:14489115,date:20081009,srch:kw,x:Yahoo! Shopping/a and a href=http://www.amazon.com/Green-Greener-Greenest-Practical-Eco-Smart/dp/0399534032/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8s=booksqid=1228865081sr=8-1Amazon.com/a./em/p

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