EARTH DAY POSTSCRIPT: Start with your car

Every Day should be Earth Day

Earth day is the day we all look at ways we can reduce our carbon footprint. 20% of all greenhouse gases come from automobiles, so it makes sense to start there.

The rising gas prices are causing many people to buy a more fuel efficient vehicle. That is a good thing, not just for the economy. Newer vehicles get better gas mileage and produce less toxic emissions.

Anyone buying a new vehicle should consider donating their older one to charity. The charity will either fix the car so that it is road worthy and passes emissions tests or make sure it is completely recycled. The money it gets will be used to further its mission.

To do twice as much good, donate your old car, boat or RV to our local PBS station, KNAU.  You get a tax deduction and KNAU (93.5 FM in Payson) gets funding for more of the quality programming that is by far the best radio in Rim Country.  To donate go to http://www.knau.org or call 866-789-TMCP (Take My Car Please). 

Anyone not replacing their car can still help the environment by making it greener. Keeping it tuned up, the tires inflated and changing the air filter often will produce up to a 25% improvement in gas mileage. 

A less toxic anti-freeze is now available that is 65% less toxic. New life-time wiper blades are available that are not made from petroleum based rubber. They are 100% recyclable. There are many non-toxic cleaning products for both the outside and interior of the car. 

While Earth Day is a good day to concentrate on cleaning up and protecting the environment, it is a practice that should be continued every day of the year. 

(Don't want to boast, but your Gazette Blog editor did not start his car all weekend.)