Earth Day is Here! How To Have a Positive Effect on the Environment

April 22, 2010

It's Earth Day, so Ask Patty has rounded up some important suggestions that touch on Earth Day friendliness. At AskPatty.com, we recognize our responsibility to the world around us and strive to reduce our environmental impact. Here are some tips you can follow to be more ecofriendly in your car

Improve Your Vehicle's Fuel Economy
Just a couple years ago, the price for premium fuel in the Los Angeles area was over $4. This month, it's loitering around $3.25. This article at AskPatty.com suggests a variety of automotive tips which are useful whether you're trying to make a difference by helping the environment, or you're just aiming to save a few more dollars at the pump each month.

Recycle Old Car Batteries
Calling all dead car, truck, boat and motorcycle batteries. It's time to get recycled. According to Road and Travel, "an automotive battery, also referred to as a lead-acid battery, contains about 21 pounds of lead, three pounds of plastic and one gallon of sulfuric acid. These items can be toxic if handled improperly, and there is a better solution.

Bring your old lead-acid batteries to the AAA Great Battery Roundup. Roundups are held annually in the United States and Canada to commemorate Earth Day. Ask your local AAA/CAA office for particulars.

"The lead-acid battery is crucial to modern automotive technology and is easily recycled if disposed of properly," said Nancy DeRose, AAA's manager of Battery Services, in a release. "Nearly 99 percent of a vehicle battery can be recycled and used again without removing new lead, or other natural resources from the environment."

To handle used batteries, keep them upright and place them in a sturdy box or plastic container when transporting them for recycling. AAA says if the battery case is cracked or leaking, put it in a leak-proof container. Also do not smoke near or expose the batteries to an open flame, and make certain they will not shift and tip over in a moving vehicle.

To learn more about the Great Battery Roundup, call your Auto Club office or visit www.aaa.com.

Greening Your Car, from Treehugger.com:
Though TreeHugger doesn't advocate driving, we realize that it's still the way that many people get around every day. Whether you're a daily commuter or a weekend wanderer, there are lots ways to green your car use, beyond taking the bus, hopping on your bike or simply not climbing behind the wheel as much.

1) Going the speed limit is the "single most immediately effective thing you can do" and it doesn't matter if you drive a hybrid sedan or an SUV: the benefits are immediate and massively propagating.
2) Proper tire inflation reduces rolling resistance and improves your gas mileage; some say inflating with nitrogen makes tires leak more slowly, and some say it doesn't matter.
3) Take action with Pump 'Em Up if you're looking to get active and help others make their cars green(er), and see where you compare (and add your two cents) with what our readers are driving.
4) Gadgets like the solar-powered car vent can help keep you cool without having to flip the switch on the A/C and further tax your engine and reduce gas mileage.
5) Beware: new car smell is toxic and air quality inside cars is often worse than outside. See where your car ranks and learn some tips for keeping toxics to a minimum in your car's interior.

For more tips about greening your car for Earth Day, check out TreeHugger's How To Green Your Car guide.