I bought a new car that gets very good fuel economy and I also started riding my bike to work. My car gets about 35mpg in city driving (and closer to 40 on the highway). I figure that my commute is about 15 miles total, so I'm not saving much gasoline. On the other hand, every little bit helps, and we have to start somewhere."

"I feel good about riding my bike to work and I also feel good after having ridden so it's a bit of a win-win situation for me. As an added bonus, I'm saving money on parking fees."

We've definitely made a big effort to be more green in our business at Caesar's Designs Fine Jewelry Creations. Here are some of the things we've done:

We use 'recycled' metals in almost every piece of jewelry that's on display at the store.

A big part of our business is in recycling and redesigning people's jewelry. They bring in their old jewelry that they no longer wear and we take the metals and stones and refashion it into something they can enjoy all over again. After all, diamonds, gemstones, and metals don't age, but can be reused again. We call this being 'eco chic.'

As a jewelry store, we use lots of lights. We replaced all lights with compact fluorescent bulbs. Even with the lights on all the time during business hours, we've managed to reduce our electricity costs to about $50 a month.

We'd say that this has been successful! Customers appreciate what we're able to do with jewelry that they no longer wear. They can be environmentally conscious, pay homage to an heirloom piece of jewelry and indulge in luxury at the same time."

I started mowing my grass much less often. Sure, it looks terrible sometimes (like my house is a foreclosure) and the neighbors are disapproving, but hey, they don't know how polluting lawn mowers are, not to mention how lazy I am and how much I hate anything related to mowing after working on a country club grounds crew for a few summers in college. It's a win-win. Earth is like, 'Thank you, that helps so much!' And I'm like, 'Thank you, world, for central AC, PS3, conveniently packaged snack foods, bottled water, and insanely comfortable recliner chairs!' "

I took a walk around the Pittsburgh home show this week and saw 1. home energy audits to find all those hidden sources of waste in the home; 2. home sealing and insulation products and services; 3. new high-efficiency water and heating equipment.

I know these three measures will help me cut my energy use in half, but I am only halfway done. I had the energy audit and what he found was well worth the $400 I paid. After that, I foamed the basement, sealed up the spots he pointed out and did the attic -- the insulation in the walls will cost some money -- and only after doing all that will it be time for the heating equipment.

Our neighborhood group in Friendship is starting a subgroup for those ready to make a commitment to green living and energy efficiency with the theory that it will be better to learn from each other."

In January 2010, the Peters Township Public Library began a GO Green Club and it has been a rousing success! Our group meets monthly to share ideas and plan green programs/activites to be offered at the library. This month we sponsored a program featuring ways to cut your home energy costs. We are planning several activities to take place on Earth Day this year - the 40th anniversary! We will also be putting together several displays for the library lobby about recycling, composting, and other topics. The club members are very passionate people trying in their own everday lives to live green and inform others how they can too!

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