With rising climate temperatures (and rising gas prices), there's never been a better time than now to "Go Green."  Take a moment to learn about ways you can "Go Green" and help the environment.  If you'd like to submit your own ideas, tell us!

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• Every week, record how much energy you use.  Reading your electric meter (kW-h), odometer (miles), and gas bill is a quick and easy way to monitor how you are saving energy.  This is one of the most important and easiest step to reduce energy consumption.  (Courtesy of 92-3 VIP Michael Woon)

• Start your washer/dryer/dishwasher right before going to bed.  That’s when demand is lower and the rates are less you will definitely notice a difference in your utility bills. (Courtesy of 92-3 VIP Kim Poland)

• Recycle.  Recycling conserves our limited natural resources.  As you run errands and shop, look for the large green Recycle Indianapolis drop off containers, placed in specific locations around our city.  You can place your recyclable items in these containers at no charge.  To find a drop off site near you, visit www.kibi.org.

• Change your light bulbs.  Try out compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs.  You'll conserve energy and save money too.  (Thanks to 92-3 VIP Ryan Kuiper for the tip)!

• Plant a tree.  Trees not only make our city a more beautiful place to live, they can increase property values up to 20%.  Properly placed trees can save an average household up to $250 annually in energy costs.  Trees absorb pollution, cleaning our air and water.

• Get free trees for your neighborhood.  Residents of Marion County can get free trees for their streets and public spaces through Keep Indianapolis Beautiful’s Neighborwoods program.  To apply for free trees, visit www.kibi.org.

• Combat litter.  Litter is not only unsightly, but can harm children, animals, and the environment.  Research also shows strong connections between litter and crime.  You can combat the hazards of litter by refusing to litter yourself, and discourage others.  This includes cigarettes.  Organize a neighborhood cleanup today!

• Try out Blackle.   In January 2007 a blog post titled Black Google Would Save 750 Megawatt-hours a Year proposed the theory that a black version of the Google search engine would save a fair bit of energy due to the popularity of the search engine. Since then there has been skepticism about the significance of the energy savings that can be achieved and the cost in terms of readability of black web pages. But the black-screen search engine is catching on, and savings small amounts of energy each day.  Powered by Google Custom Search, Blackle searches help remind us that even small energy savings do indeed add up and that we can all do our part.

• Adopt a block.  Through the Operation My Town program, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful provides each block coordinator with a cleanup kit including a broom, shovel, gloves, litter grabber, dustpan, and a bucket.  On an annual basis, O.M.T. will provide a supply of gloves and trash bags to aid in your efforts.  Clean blocks are rewarded with flowers, trees, mini grants, and other items to help with block beautification.

• Drive a green car.  There are now hybrids to match almost any need: two-door, four-door, SUV, luxury sedan. They get better mileage than their conventional counterparts, have cleaner emissions, and save money on gas. If a hybrid isn’t in your future, try for a car with the best MPG you can find; and remember that hybrids aren’t always the most efficient option, either. Biodiesel can now be found in almost any state in the US. This clean, domestic, veggie-based, carbon-neutral fuel will run in any diesel car or truck with little or no modification to the engine. Straight vegetable oil is an option for the more ambitious green driver and can make fueling up almost free. Another veggie fuel is ethanol, and there are between 5-6 million flex-fuel vehicles already on the road—you may even be driving one and not know it. Also, affordable, practical electric cars and plug-in hybrids aren’t too far off, either. But whether or not you drive a hybrid or alternative-fuel vehicle, there’s lots you can do to green your car right now.

• Stay in tune.   Getting regular tune-ups, maintenance, and having clean air filters will help you burn less gas, pollute less, and prevent car trouble down the line. Pump up: if every American’s tires were properly inflated we could save around 2 billion gallons of gas each year! (Check your manual for optimal pressure). Lastly, get the junk out of the trunk!  All that extra weight is sapping your fuel economy.

• Leave the car at home.   For shorter adventures, walk, take IndyGo, ride your bike, skateboard, rollerblades, or even look into an electric scooter. Carrying groceries or other bulky stuff can still be done on a bike with a backpack or some slick modifications. Check out the Xtracycle, for example.

• Drive part of the way.  If getting where you’re going by bike or public transit alone isn’t going to happen, consider driving part of the way and then jumping on public transit or your bike (a folder would be perfect). A great way to beat traffic!

• Easy on the AC.   Use the windows to help keep the car cool. Or try an electric or solar fan. Parking in the shade and using a reflective windshield shade can keep your car cooler when parked, meaning it takes less to cool it off when you get back in. If you car is new, however, let it air out. That new car smell is not friendly stuff.

• Sign up for Green Power for Renewable Energy.  Indianapolis Power and Light Company (IPL) offers commercial and residential customers electricity that is generated from clean, renewable energy sources.  The green power option allows you to specify an amount equal to 100%, 50%, 25%, or 10% of your monthly electricity to be generated by clean, environmentally friendly, and renewable resources such as wine, solar, geothermal, or biomass generation.  For more information, call 317-261-8222 or visit www.iplpower.com.

• Go Native.  Garden with plants that are native to Indiana.  Not only are native plants usually non-invasive, but also they are drought tolerant and adapted to the local growing conditions.  This means they require less water and intensive care in the garden.  For added benefit, they attract birds and butterflies!  For more information on native plants, visit the Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society at www.inpaws.org.

• Make a tax-deductible donation to Keep Indianapolis Beautiful or other environmental organizations.

• Volunteer.  Every year, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful coordinates over 500 community improvement projects.  For more information on how you could help, contact Sarah Grain at 317-264-7555 ext. 106.