Fuel-efficient vehicles will help your family save at the gas pump while decreasing the output of greenhouse gasses.

Is the oil changed regularly and is the used engine oil recycled?

Are tires kept properly inflated?

Are the wheels kept properly aligned?

Find out why these things are important.

More alternatives to the car mean less pollution, gridlock and urban sprawl. Try car-pooling, walking, biking or taking mass transit with friends.

Don’t litter. Save trash and dispose of it at a rest stop. Throwing anything out of a window is littering, even if it’s biodegradable.

Seafood that is certified as sustainably harvested.

Use a sustainable seafood guide to help choose fish that are not being over-fished.

Find out whether that “recycle-able“ product really is, and how much energy is needed to recycle it.

When considering a “disposable” product, investigate how long it would actually take to decompose in a landfill.

In stores, notice which products have excess packaging, such as individually wrapped cheese slices, apples on a tray wrapped with shrink-wrap, etc.

If your family is shopping for a new major appliance, check the energy ratings and pass on what you learn.