If you're a commuter, chances are you drive to work alone -- after all, 76% of us do, producing three quarters of all transportation emissions along the way. The whole point of the book Bowling Alone is that Americans aren't as sociable as they used to be -- only 64% drove alone in 1980 -- and that's why the carpool bit the dust.
Don't think driving's a problem? How about that New Orleans oil spill?
A company called Avego thinks it has a solution for our wired-in times. It does require relating to other human beings, though. "Shared Transport" is a variation on the informal "slugging" or "casual carpooling" that has grown up around congested highways in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. Because cars with two or more occupants can travel in the HOV lanes, people gather at set take-up points for free rides.
Try walking instead; here are the 10 most walkable cities in the country.
Avego Shared Transport is a free iPhone app for on-demand ride-sharing, and it's just been updated to be
Blog Posts by TheDailyGreen.com
Would You Use an iPhone App to Set Up a Carpool?
By TheDailyGreen.com | Green – Fri, Apr 30, 2010 9:41 PM EDTWant to Help China? Read This First.
By TheDailyGreen.com | Work + Money – Wed, Apr 14, 2010 8:31 PM EDT
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China's recent earthquake is yet another in a series of devastating events this year. It's easy to feel helpless and confused about what to do.
When the earthquake struck Haiti in January, we found ourselves confused about how best to help. Short of getting there and lending a hand, giving to charity seemed the best option, but then there were the warnings about how quickly (and how much of) the funds would get there. Now comes the same feeling for China, but we've got three sites that can help you make your donation count.
Could volunteer opportunities help solve our economic problems?
1. GreatNonprofits.com, a relatively young site (founded in 2007), aims to do for nonprofits what Yelp has done for restaurants: magnify word-of-mouth experience with the power of the Internet.
Smaller community nonprofits do good work that too often goes unrecognized and unsupported. If a local charity makes big news, it's often because of an accounting scandal or some other miscue, rather than theCan Goldman Sachs Learn from Michelle Obama?
By TheDailyGreen.com | Green – Wed, Apr 7, 2010 9:25 PM EDT
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The Daily Green's senior editor, Dan Shapley, asked Roger Doiron, a 2009 Heart of Green Award winner and founder of Kitchen Gardeners International, some questions about gardening for beginners and gardening for politicians. Doiron and Kitchen Gardeners International were a big part of the movement that convinced Michelle Obama to plant that organic garden at the White House. So he knows a thing or two about not only gardening, but also politics and inspiration.
Meet all the 2009 Heart of Green winners
Here's what he had to say:
Michelle Obama planted the White House garden, as you and KGI had pushed for. What do you think the biggest successes have been to come out of that project?
I am very impressed with how the First Lady and Chef Sam Kass have used the garden as a platform for creating a national dialogue about food, health and the well-being of our children and the planet we all call home. The White House garden has been the backdrop for prime-time TV shows like the BiggestCheap Household Cleansers You Can Make in Minutes
By TheDailyGreen.com | Work + Money – Tue, Apr 6, 2010 7:33 PM EDTIt's easy (and cheap!) to clean your kitchen counter and floor with items in your pantry. Need a spot treatment for a spill or want to become more environmentally friendly? Follow these recipes for a quick solution.
Porcelain and Tile
Keep your bathrooms and kitchen tile spotless and hygienic with these natural cleansers:- Baking Soda and Water: Dust surfaces with baking soda, then scrub with a moist sponge or cloth. If you have tougher grime, sprinkle on some kosher salt, and work up some elbow grease.
- Lemon Juice or Vinegar: Got stains, mildew or grease streaks? Spray or douse with lemon juice or vinegar. Let sit a few minutes, then scrub with a stiff brush.
- Disinfectant: Instead of bleach, make your own disinfectant by mixing 2 cups of water, 3 tablespoons of liquid soap and 20 to 30 drops of tea tree oil. It's easy!
Kitchen Counters
The room where food is prepared, stored and often enjoyed requires constant vigilance. Read More »from Cheap Household Cleansers You Can Make in Minutes5 Secrets to Budget (and Planet)-Friendly Travel
By TheDailyGreen.com | Travel – Wed, Mar 31, 2010 11:38 PM EDT
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When it comes to environmental action, the mantra "Think Globally, Act Locally" is a good one to live by. But what about when we travel? According to Jeff Yeager, the Green Cheapskate, the travel mantra is a simple reversal: "Think Locally, Travel Globally."
SEE THESE AMAZING FEATS OF URBAN BEEKEEPING.
You'll usually find the most eco-friendly and genuine travel experiences when you spend less - not more - and get local, no matter where in the world you're wandering. It's all about traveling independently (not in a tour group or packaged tour) and drilling down to the local level, getting a true sense of place by experiencing it as if you live there. Here's how:
For even more of an experience, try a volunteer vacation.
Guidebooks kill: Consult a good, locally researched guidebook like those in the Lonely Planet series for basic background and logistical info before you travel, but don't use it to plan your every move, like where you'll stay, eat and hang out. By the time a guidebook
Longing for a getaway but just can't rationalize the cost this year? You're not alone - when money is tight, vacations are often one of the first things we push off until next year. But just about anyone can look forward to an escape this year if you take our advice and try a volunteer vacation.
Volunteer vacations provide you with once-in-a-lifetime experiences and the relaxation and rejuvenation you crave, at little or no cost. Ok, so you do have to work a little - but teaching your family about the value of giving back and spending quality time together is something you just can't put a price on.
Check out these five great vacation options below and also find 11 amazing volunteer destinations - including deep sea diving and European trips - here.Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation
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Cost: FREE!
Meals and lodging: Meals included; volunteers bring their own gear.
Explore the wilderness of Montana while helping to preserve and maintain the trails of the Bob MarshallRecipes and Tips for a Healthier Passover
By TheDailyGreen.com | Shine Food – Mon, Mar 29, 2010 9:57 PM EDTPassover is the perfect time to think about eating seasonally, according to Leah Koenig, editor of The Jew and the Carrot, a blog focused on the intersection of Jews, food and sustainability. Koenig says the Seder plate runneth over with seasonal symbols: the roasted lamb bone celebrates the springtime meat; karpas symbolizes the first greens after winter; and a roasted egg recalls fertility and rebirth. She offers tips to make this year's Passover celebration a healthy and sustainable one.
The Seder Plate:
- Charoset is a mixture of apples, nuts, wine and spices. Choose organic apples for yours, and Koenig suggests adding Equal Exchange's fair trade pecans, which come from a co-op in Georgia and make a tasty predinner snack for hungry guests too.
- Baytzah is a hardboiled egg. Choose organic, cage-free eggs. While 'cage-free' isn't a label that is tightly regulated, the term is used to describe eggs laid by chickens who are not kept in cages the size of laptops, and who can
You Made THAT? Amazing Items Made from Recycled Bottles
By TheDailyGreen.com | Work + Money – Fri, Mar 19, 2010 12:28 AM EDTPlastic
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may be fantastic (for making medical devices or containers), and glass may be a smash when it comes to packaging beer. But both materials have major drawbacks, especially when it comes to the environment.
Just about anything can be recycled. Check out these recycled oddities.
How to combat these issues without going on a food/drink strike? Take small steps, like buying products that come in recycled packaging and using your own reusable containers as much as possible. Or, get crazy and try making some cool artwork. Here are some ideas.
Wino? Check out these other eco-friendly wine finds
Serving Trays
The flattened wine bottle as serving tray has been cropping up for a while at funky eco-boutiques and in catalogs. They come in many different colors and labels, and can be used as paddles if someone forgot to bring the brie.
Wino? Check out these other eco-friendly wine finds.
Solar Water Heater
A Chinese farmer in Shaanxi province made this ingenious solar water heater out of9 Weird Things I Freeze to Save Money
By TheDailyGreen.com | Financially Fit – Thu, Mar 18, 2010 5:53 PM EDT
It's official: I've become my grandmother. I realized it the other morning when I opened the door to our freezer.
That icy vault was packed to the brim. But -- in the finest tradition of my Grandma Yeager -- it wasn't filled so much with leftovers, like you'd find in most household freezers. You see, my Grams had a few deep-frozen secrets. She knew about weird stuff; weird stuff you can deep-six in the freezer and maybe save some money in the process.
* Candles: Keep your wax candles in the freezer and they'll burn longer. It's especially good for slim table tapers that normally burn very fast.
Would You Live in One of These Amazing Shipping Containers?
* Batteries: A number of studies have shown that storing batteries in the freezer helps them retain their charge longer. This is less true for alkaline batteries (freezing extends their shelf life by only about 5%) than it is for NiMH and Nicad batteries often used in electronics. Keeping NiMH batteries in the freezer can
Read More »from 9 Weird Things I Freeze to Save MoneyGet Paid to Volunteer? It's True!
By TheDailyGreen.com | Work + Money – Wed, Mar 17, 2010 11:32 PM EDT
Volunteers like to see their volunteer hours and precious dollars go far in support of the causes they care about. American Express and Take Part are launching a new campaign to make it easier to magnify each individual's good works.
The Members Project not only will enlist the public to vote on the best charities to receive $4 million American Express dollars annually, but it will donate up to $100 per person who volunteers his or her time. Learn more about how the project works.
Who Can Participate:
Despite its name, the Members Project isn't restricted to American Express members. Anyone can suggest charities, vote for their favorites at the Take Part site and take advantage of the volunteer payments. Get involved here!
Give Back to the Environment with These Easy Ways to Go GreenHow Voting Works:
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People vote (as often as weekly) for the charities that should receive American Express money. Every three months, American Express will give $200,000 to each of five
