For the past 8 months or so, we’ve shared a single family car. It wasn’t a deliberate eco decision; when we moved from Arkansas, we sold the crappier car and drove the CRV. The Hub had a rental courtesy of his company.

When his company no longer provided the car, we thought, why get another? I work from home, and he soon joined me, so daily commutes weren’t part of our landscape. We’ve saved money and put fewer emissions in the air, so I feel good about that.

Searching online, we’re not the only ones downsizing to one car. In these economic times, I’m surprised more people aren’t doing it.

And to make it clear, we don’t really have the benefit of taking public transportation. While San Diego has a trolley and bus system, none of it is really convenient from where we live (and Max couldn’t take the 3 mile walk).

Nor do we bike everywhere. I didn’t realize how steep the hills in our neighborhood were until I got a cruiser and tried to bike up one! We do try to bike to the grocery store for a few items every week or two.

We simply adjust our schedules. Like today, before I knew Max was sick and needed to stay home, we’d worked out how to get to The Hub’s meeting and my massage. I wouldn’t have minded arriving a bit early. Or if we have conflicting events at night, I usually prefer to stay home. We’ve even rented a car sometimes when schedule adjusting is impossible.

We’ve finally paid off our car, and have only $50 or so a month in car insurance costs (love California for that). We plan to put money aside so that we’re ready to buy our next car to either join the family or replace our CRV in the next year or so.

If we can do it, so can you!

I just read the most amazing book. It’s called Gorgeously Green by Sophie Uliano. Since I am obviously interested in being more green, I thought it was a natural fit.

This is one of those books I just sat down and read. And read. And then ran to my bathroom to check the ingredients of my makeup. Then read some more.

It’s full of useful tips on how to be green without really going out of your way. And the section on the chemicals in your makeup and household products really surprised me. I had a few on Uliano’s red alert list, which made me feel all kinds of guilty for exposing my family to toxins. (I know, I know, a little overreactive).

Uliano provides lots of easy to start ideas toward greening up your life. She includes resources for organic clothing, cleaning and products that she has tried and approves.

Her website also offers tips and products for the eco-happy girl. Uliano is coming out with another book, Do It Gorgeously, in June. Can’t wait!

I’ve really been enjoying learning more about eco-friendly products and organic food over the last few months. Once you start the knowledge train, you can’t stop!

As a household, we’re far from perfectly green, but we’re working toward it as a goal.

Something I read this week really got my attention. I knew that when you leave appliances plugged in, they use energy even when they’re not on, but I read that the average household has 40 things plugged in! I took it upon myself to count how many we had. We had 48 things plugged in. I unplugged 12. Felt good about it. Might not make a huge difference but it helps, right?

Here are the things I want to commit to in honor of Earth Day:

• Continue to replace light bulbs with CFL (we’re about 80% there)
• Firm up my organic food plan. I’m still kind of experimenting.
• Start a compost pile.  The Hub found a little machine like this that will make it easy.
• Don’t be lazy about recycling (sometimes I am)
• Keep learning about eco ideas from blogs.
• Get us on the Do Not Mail junk mail list
• Support local eco friendly companies

Enjoy my Eco Friday posts again:

On the Hunt for Milk

How Much More Expensive is Organic?

Waste Not

What’s your Earth Day Promise? Let’s help each other keep them!