You Mean I'm Supposed to Observe the Speed Limit?

Go to FuelEconomy.gov for their helpful Gas Mileage Tips. Learn how you can drive more efficiently, keep your car in shape, plan and combine trips and choose the most efficient vehicle possible in order to save fule and funds! FuelEconomy.gov is maintained by the US Department of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the US Environmental Protection Agency. The information on the site helps consumers make informed fuel economy choices when purchasing a new vehicle and helps them achieve the best fuel economy possible from the cars they already own. If you're looking for fuel economy estimates, energy and environmental impact ratings or fuel-saving tips, go to FuelEconomy.gov!

Looking to Drive Greener? Don't Drive Like my Brother!

Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers, host NPR's Car Talk radio show each week (please tell me you already knew that... SO funny!). Did you know that they also host Car Talk's Eco Area on their cartalk.com Web site? It's full of ways that you can reduce the impact of your automobile. With driving and maintenance tips, new car options, and even "ideas from the fringe," the site is loaded with information and resources to help you drive a little greener. Plus, it's Tom and Ray Magliozzi, so it's hysterical - snort-out-loud funny, in fact! My favorite part are the tips, which are each rated with a "Tree-Hugging Factor" of up to five trees. For example, "stop your idling" gets one tree, while "carpool with the yutz next door" earns four. So, check out Car Talk's Eco Area and, in the words of Click and Clack, "before you know it, you'll be wearing Birkenstocks and eating free-range tofu!"

Ecodriving Tips

It can be frustrating to read a "Top 5 ways to..." list about greening a specific segment of your life only to find that the 5 suggestions listed don't apply to you, you already do, are not possible where you live...you get the point. So, I was excited to find this list from EcoModder titled "108 Hypermiling/Eco-Driving Tips." Surely we can all pick up some new ideas with 108 to choose from!

Kelley Green Book

Many of us have relied on the Kelley Blue Book to find out the value of a used car or truck. Well, now the Kelley Blue Book folks have gone green! The new KBB Green section on their web site provides all sorts of information on hybrid diesel, biofuel and other alternative fuel vehicles. Have you been wondering whether it's worth it to trade in your clunker for a more fuel-efficient model? Answer a few simple questions and find out the upfront cost of trading in your car for a new one, how much money you'll save on fuel per month, and the time it will take for you to financially and emotionally break even. Yes, this site can even gauge your emotions! It also lets you know how many barrels of oil and metric tons of CO2 you's be saving the Earth. It's definitely a site worth checking out!

Life Is a Highway...What Car Should You Drive On It?

Consumer Reports brings you the Guide to Driving Green. This thorough report contains much more that fuel efficiency comparisons. Learn when it makes sense (and cents) to trade in your current wheels for a more fuel-efficient model. Speaking of fuel-efficient models, find out how the various choices stack up. And it's not only about what kind of car you're driving, but also about how you drive it. Find out what things you can do to make your current car more fuel-efficient. What's in store for hybrids in the future? How do hybrids work, anyway? What about hydrogen fuel cells? An what's the difference between the various kinds of alternative fuels? Discover all of this and more in the Guide to Driving Green!

Neither Rain, Nor Sleet, Nor Global Warming...

Did you know that the U.S. Postal Service has the largest civilian alternative vehicle fleet in the nation? In fact, the USPS has been taking many steps towards greening their operations and helping others do the same. Many of their mailing and shipping supplies carry a Cradle to Cradle Certification (not yet an evaluated certification program) which looks at products' impacts on human and environmental health, recyclability, and energy and water demands. The USPS is also testing out several mailback programs that would help consumers responsibly dispose of electronics, compact fluorescent bulbs and unused prescription medications. Oh, and did we mention that they have postage stamps made with soy ink and are upgrading their buildings to reduce energy use? Their colors may be red, white and blue, but the U.S. Postal Service is looking quite green these days! For more information, check out Greener Choices With the U.S. Postal Service.

Vroom Vroom

This week is the beginning of the North American International Auto Show (formerly the Detroit Auto Show). So, what's so eco-smart about that you ask? Well, it turns out that this year there are many automakers showing off their new green technologies. Check out these articles to learn more about them!

• Automakers Tout Green Technologies
  
• A Power Trip With Green Detours
  
• 'Green' Grows From Trendy to Increasingly Profitable