Whether you’re eco-conscious, an early adopter of new technologies or are simply looking for better gas mileage, researchers are uncovering multiple reasons why consumers are making the switch to green cars such as hybrids and electric vehicles. According to independent green news source Grist, more than one million green cars are expected to be on the roads across the United States by 2015. Here are just a few of the most common reasons why people choose to buy green cars:

1. Gas efficiency: According to a recent study by J.D. Power & Associates, fuel efficiency has replaced reliability, incentives and exterior styling as the number one influencer when it comes to car buying. Most hybrids average more than 40 miles per gallon of gasoline equivalents (MPGe), while electrics can easily get about 100 MPGe.
   
   
2. Environmental impact: Green living is increasingly becoming a way of life. Not only are consumers more aware of their carbon footprints, but also manufacturers are dedicated to providing more eco-friendly products to match demand.
   
   
3. A love of technology: Are you usually the first person in your neighborhood to have the latest, coolest gadget on the market? For those who enjoy trying out the newest technology, buying a hybrid or electric car may be an enticing option.
   
   
4. Cost: For budget-conscious consumers who are looking to buy and keep a car for several years, a green car can be a great choice. While green cars may cost more upfront, you might actually spend less on an eco-friendly ride than you would on a traditional gas car. And, with the government offering incentives to buy green cars, you could walk away with a great deal.

However, there are also certain elements of green cars that may inhibit the widespread adoption of this technology, such as non-traditional exterior styling, smaller size and high initial cost. Whether you decide to buy a standard gas-fueled car or a green car, make sure your new vehicle is protected with an auto insurance policy before driving off the lot. Read car insurance ratings and compare online insurance quotes to find the best company and coverage for your needs.

Do you hate the taste of water like Beyonce? Have a hard time drinking enough of it even though you know it’s crucial for every basic function? Or maybe you just don’t care if you drink enough water.

Even when I have the best-tasting water available a short walk away, I find myself making excuses when it comes time to grab a drink or refill my cup. Mostly I just don’t feel like getting up for a cup of plain water.

What Beyonce does is throw cucumbers and lemon into her H20 before indulging. That got me to thinking, which led to experimenting and before you could say “hydrophobia” I had whipped up a couple nutritional and tasty concoctions using cold filtered water and some of the world’s most nutritious fruit.

I quickly found out that lemons and cucumbers taste much better with a cup of blueberries and mint sprigs. Another one of my favorites is an apple, pear and kiwi mix, full of antioxidants and perfect for a mid-afternoon pick up.

Different fresh herbs that mix well with water and have big health benefits too are basil and mint, both of which I suggest throwing a healthy sprig or three of into the mix.

Having your favorite blend of fruit water ready and waiting in a pitcher in the fridge is a good way to motivate yourself into staying hydrated and getting a drink when you need one.

 The best part about making a fruit water concoction—other than keeping you quenched —is that the process can take as little or as long an amount of time as you want.

First, make sure you are using washed and clean fruit, herbs and veggies and that the water you’re using is filtered. After adding a cup or two of berries, a few sprigs of herbs and two or three sliced pieces of fruit to a simple glass pitcher, throw in some ice.

Then, either muddle the berries at the bottom with a spoon and drink up or put the pitcher in the fridge to give the flavors at least half an hour to infuse.

Believe me, after you’ve found your favorite healthy fruit combo it’ll be hard to stop drinking water, no matter the proximity.

If you’re looking for a good spring cleaning mission for your home consider making your kitchen experience a more eco-friendly one. How would this be done? There are many ways, some of which include the following:

1. Using an apron: Do you like to cook a lot? Consider the countless times you were cooking and got egg, cookie dough, tomato sauce, or some other pasty mush all over you. Wearing an apron will cut down on the clothing that needs to be washed saving energy and water.
2. Go with cloth towels: Paper towels are easy to purchase and extremely convenient but are sometimes coated with chemicals. At the very least they simply create unnecessary amounts of waste. Instead keep a bunch of cloth towels on hand for regular use and a few rags under the sink for the really dirty jobs.
3. Use eco-cleaners: Plumbing contractors just about everywhere will tell you that standard cleaning products contain a host of chemicals and when they get poured down the drain contaminate aquifers and soil. To avoid all of this use eco-friendly brands.
4. Energy efficiency: If you are planning on getting a new refrigerator, oven, or one of many other kitchen appliances look for energy saving brands. Alternatively unplug appliances when not in use as many still use electricity when connected.
5. Faucet aerator: Sometimes when opening the tap our kitchen faucets provide such a powerful stream of water it’s easy to be wasteful. A good solution is to make sure the sink mechanism has an aerator attachment, which will slow the flow of water.
6. Compost pail: A kitchen can’t be green unless it has a bucket to save all the organic materials that can be composted like peels and seeds. Once this collection gets added to the garden it will provide great nutrients for your veggies putting healthy food back on your table.
7. Reusable tableware: Having some disposables around for an emergency is forward thinking but in the here and now reusable forks, knives, spoons, cups, and plates should be the focus.
8. Washing buckets: You’re probably wondering how using non-disposables is eco-friendly because you’ll need to wash them out which means using more water. However, with a bucket for soaking and one for rinsing the amount of water doesn’t have to go up just because less trash is going to the dump.
9. Eco-friendly products: Try as much as possible to purchase products that are labeled fair trade, organic, and locally grown. These will either have been manufactured under more humane conditions, be healthier for your body because of a lack of chemicals, or have used less resources being transported to your local supermarket.
10. Good pots & pans: Quality isn’t just about durability. How well certain pots and pans conduct heat can save a lot on energy costs whether using gas or electricity.