1. Do a Google search: How easy is that? Here’s why it’s a good move: all your Google searches, in different ways, contribute to a successful, profitable Google. Lately, Google has been plowing some of those profits into pragmatic, large-scale, earth-friendly projects, from this spring’s $55 million investment in a massive Mojave Desert wind farm to the company’s announcement a few weeks ago that it invested $280 in SolarCity, a residential solar-power provider that allows homeowners to cost-effectively rent a solar-power system.
2. Download the new Leafsnap app: This spring saw the release of Leafsnap, a handy little iPhone/iPad tool that allows you to identify trees by scanning their leaves with your phone as you wander through yards/parks/trails. It’s not necessarily the reason to get into nature, but c’mon, we’re looking at the future of field guides here, and this is one amazing free download. Trying it out is a hoot (it’s built with face-recognition technologies in mind), and we dare you to resist looking at a tree once it’s on your phone. How it helps nature: by reminding us all to take a close look at its splendor, up close and personal, every now and again.
3. Don’t overfill your gas tank: Again, super easy. Most modern cars, especially those of the premium variety, have gasoline-vapor recovery systems—a special canister that captures the fumes as you fill up. If the gas tank gets topped off, liquid gas then runs the risk of spilling into the canister, causing the system to stop working for a while. You can guess what happens from there: Fumes escape into the atmosphere where they can do all sorts of nasty stuff, such as forming into smog and airborne pollutants like benzene.
4. Register for Lexus Hybrid Living: Okay, this will take about 10 seconds, and the reason you’ll want log-in privileges is because Lexus Hybrid Living is chock full of premium, Lexus-recommended restaurants, retailers, architects/designers, hotels, and more—all of which form a community of eco-sensitive partners with Lexus. (lexushybridliving.com)
5. Pull a few plugs: According to more reports that you can shake a power bill at, household appliances in their standby or completely off modes account for as much as 10 percent of household electricity use, since they still draw megawatts of electricity when they're not being watched, clicked, remote-controlled, used for food prep, or making coffee. Not necessarily easy for busy people: pulling every plug in the house before running out the door each day. Much easier: yank a few plugs close to the door, or pull out a good number before long summer trips.
6. Eat tomatoes—and drink some coffee: Carbon footprint, carbon footprint, carbon footprint. We all know what this is. But how about a water footprint, as in, how much water goes into the production of different foods (and therefore the level of strain, great or small, on water resources)? According to a recent study by the Netherland's University of Twente, food and drinks with some of the lightest water footprints include tomatoes and lettuce (summer salads!), coffee and tea (iced latte! Iced tea!), and wine.
7. Buy an LED light bulb—it’ll keep you legal in 2014: Like the Lexus LED headlamp offered on most Lexus models, energy-saving LED light bulbs are top-of-the-line premium. At $40 to $50 a pop, though, they’re quite the price hop from both traditional incandescents and the curly CFLs. The upshot: LEDs last for years, so grabbing one while you’re at the hardware store this summer, and grabbing them over time, will mean far fewer trips to the store for light bulbs—which is good because incandescent light bulbs will be illegal in 2014 anyway.
Plus: excitement lies ahead. In May, Switch Lighting unveiled its “Superbulb” LEDs, set to go on sale later this year. At about $20 each, they use 85 percent less energy than a traditional bulb.
8. Download (good) planet-helping music: Patagonia, the clothing and outdoor gear company, has long been devoted to environmental causes and that rings true for their latest audio initiative. The Patagonia Music™ Collective offers exclusive tracks from 28 different groups and performers such as Pearl Jam, Philip Glass, and Jack Johnson. Proceeds from each track go to environmental charities selected by the artists (Ziggy Marley chose Jamaican Environment Trust, while Brandi Carlisle picked Honor the Earth), with at least 60 percent of the proceeds from each sale going directly to the selected cause.
9. Buy a 2012 Lexus hybrid in September. Finally, it’s not too early to think about the 2012 RX 450h, LS 600h, or the next generation GS 450h. Not too early at all. And the CT 200h should definitely be on your mind. Need convincing from an eco-angle? Consider the benefits of hybrids in general.
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