ON THE ROAD

Avoid Idling
If you need to warm up your car engine on a cold winter day, try to limit idling time to less than 30 seconds to keep your fuel emissions low.

"Dry Wash Your Car
Though the bucket and sponge method may require less water than the local car wash, it may also be as environmentally unfriendly, introducing toxins into the ground-water that winds up in our drinking supply. Instead buy a waterless plant-based cleaner like Dri Wash Envy ($38; driwash.com).

Pack It Up
Stashing sample-size bottles of your health and beauty products in your carry-on is one way to comply with the TSA's liquid limits, but it's better for the earth-and your wallet-to snag a set of reusable containers.

Travel by Train
Planes produce 19 times as much pollution as trains do. When you do fly, offset your carbon emissions by going to terrapass.com and purchasing "credits" to fund clean energy projects, like those using wind and farm power. For more eco-solutions, check out idealbite.com, a Web site that delivers free green-living tips to your e-mail in-box every day.