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Since our village is only 1.5 miles wide and 3 miles long, we walk or ride our bikes everywhere and bring purchases home in our backpacks.

-- Susan Smith, Oak Park


I ride my bike to the Metra station, and take Metra to work each day - for a zero-emissions commute.

-- Glenn Larson


Although I do drive a car, I lump my errands together by location so I am not necessarily wasting high-priced gasoline or putting excess fumes into the air.

-- Laurie Daley, Chicago


I bunch errands into a day of driving my non-gas guzzling car to use as little fuel as possible. I also use mass transit enough that I'm on a first-name basis with CTA's customer service.

-- Candace Drimmer


I have stopped using drive- thru windows and the benefits are I can get my banking, food or beverage pick up completed in a fraction of the time, save fuel, don't have to inhale all the exhaust, and get a little exercise. At my bank, there are two ATMs right inside the door that are rarely used, yet there is often a line of 5 or 6 SUVs at the drive thru ATM, all waiting for several minutes with their engines running. The same goes for working with a teller or picking up food where there are several employees behind the counter verses one manning the drive-thru.

-- Megan Arity, Western Springs


I always shut my engine off as soon as possible and never sit in a car with the motor running. I see many people doing this in parking lots ... eating their lunches, talking on the cell phone ... etc. If everyone would shut off their engine immediately the air would be a lot cleaner for everyone. It's so easy and should be automatic.

-- Margaret Rady, Glenview


When getting in your car, fasten your seat belt and be ready to go before you start your car. So many people do the reverse - start the car, then fasten the seat belt, turn on the radio etc.. Their rationale is it is so minor what difference does it make. But, if it takes 30 seconds each time, and only go someplace and come back, that is a minute per day of your car running times 360 days = 6 hours per year of excess pollution.

-- Larry Grabowski, La Grange Highlands

Car wash

How many gallons of water does the car wash use to clean one car? Well, try a spray bottle of vinegar, lots of rags and a little elbow grease. No water, no soap, no rinsing, and keep your $7. It takes me less than 1/2 hour to do my car, and the result is unbelievably beautiful. It gleams! And I get a little exercise into the bargain.

-- Janet Mezgolits

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