Just about everybody knows that driving an electric or hybrid vehicle is better for the environment, but not everybody is in the position to buy one. When it comes to driving, there are other green things you can do that also add some "green" to your wallet. From inflating tires with alternative gases to choosing upcycled tires, our tire guide will help you green up your ride.

Inflate tires with nitrogen for improved fuel efficiency

According to the Environmental Protection Agency's Fuel Economy guide, under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Because nitrogen has more stable pressure than oxygen (due to its larger molecules), it is less likely to seep through the permeable tire walls. Tires that stay filled longer are better for the environment because:

• The vehicle uses less gas when it's riding on full tires
• You make fewer trips to fill up on gas

If you want to compare your fuel savings between air- or nitrogen-filled tires, check out the Get Nitrogen Institute's nitrogen calculator.

Right-size tires on your vehicle = less wear and petroleum waste

Most of us assume that the tires our vehicles come with are the best option for our make or model. Tire size, driving conditions and materials used in manufacturing matter too, though, when it comes to wear and tear. If your two-ton vehicle is riding on an inadequate-size tires, you're literally going to burn rubber faster. Consider if touring tires, winter tires or all-season tires will provide better wear than what you drove off the dealer lot with.

Discover if your car can use recycled retreaded tires

Retreaded tires offer eco-conscious drivers a reliable and affordable way to make use of upcycled materials. The Retread Tire Association reports that significant savings of raw materials exist by retreading, including synthetic and natural rubber, sulfur and sulfur compounds, silica, carbon black, steel wire, zinc oxide plus additional other materials and ingredients.

If you're wondering where you might find recycled tires to fit your vehicle, Earth 911 enables users to search using their zip code to find a dealer. We hope to see more recycled tire availability as the process of de-vulcanizing rubber takes off.

Green your tires by going orange

Adding orange oil in the tire manufacturing process can cut down petroleum use by four-fifths, according to greencarreports.com. While they won't appear orange or smell like citrus, these tires are even more slow-rolling than ones designed for hybrid models like the Toyota Prius. While most tires are made from petroleum, these eco-friendly tires get their orange oil from discarded orange peels from juice manufacturers and rely largely on renewable resources for the other design components. Unlike many slow-rolling tires that have fallen out of favor due to slippage on cold, wet surfaces, the orange oil heats up when the tire is in use, actually making it grippier.

An EPA-reported $5,250,000,000 is spent on fossil fuel-derived fertilizers for American lawns. That alone is reason to lead the crusade for greener, more eco-friendly backyards. Along with the fact that 30 to 60 percent of urban water is being used on lawns, it's time to start rethinking the traditional concept of your lawn being a lush carpet with perfectly groomed grass.

Take a look around your backyard. What changes can you make to become more environmentally responsible?

Reduce Lawn Size

Gas lawnmowers, power equipment injuries, toxic fertilizers, pollution... no more. Reduce the size of your lawn to a small area, plant a garden in its place. Add native flora because it usually thrives in local conditions which eliminates extra energy. Consider an herb bed or suburban meadow. Alternates to grass include clover, artificial lawns and putting-green grass. Reducing the amount of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides in the lawn offers healthier ways to go outside to play.

Compost

A win-win, composting reduces trash output by hundreds of pounds a year and naturally fertilizes gardens. Get an adjustable home compost bin (Planet Natural $35) or dedicate an area away from the house as your compost pile. Start putting your green materials like yards clippings and food scraps into the bin to supply the necessary nitrogen, allowing breakdown of composting materials. Mix in brown materials like paper and leaves (high in carbon). Composting will release nutrients to plants as you improve your environmental standings and reduce household waste.

Saltwater Pool

If you have an existing pool, you could drain it and cover it or switch out the toxic chlorine with saltwater. A salt chlorine generator converts salt into chlorine, naturally sanitizing your pool. You will pour large bags of plain table salt (non-iodized) right into the pool. Because they eliminate the need for expensive chemicals, saltwater pools are better for the environment and for your personal health, skin and wallet. Click here for inground pool products.

Another option is to use a constructed wetland as the pools water filtration system. Pumped water will pass through different types of plants and soil, naturally taking the impurities out as they become nourished. You end up with a balanced aquatic ecosystem.

Use a Pool Cover

Heat reduction is an ecological benefit to having a pool cover. Also, evaporation can be reduced by 90 percent, saving water usage and energy.

Harvest Rainwater

Put a rain barrel out during a shower (or under a downspout) and have water free of chlorine and additives to water your garden and clean your patio.

Invite Bug Eaters

Ladybugs eat aphids that destroy crops and flowers. Plant bright flowers to give the little ladies a place to live and reproduce. Birds eat plant and herb destroying pests like slugs, snails and caterpillars. Welcome them into your backyard by offering birdseed and bird houses.

Cover photo from Flickr user Maegan Tintari / ...love Maegan.

If we don't curtail our wasteful ways, the demands we place on our planet will limit generations to come. We may have a separate bin for our recyclables, and that's a great start—but we can do more to assist the efforts to save the planet.

Join the green revolution by incorporating these eco-friendly habits:

Switch to a Sponge

How many bulk packages of paper towels do you go through in a year? It's too many. Get a pack of sponges and start cleaning your counters with them instead. Worried about bacteria that could grow on your sponge? Remove food particles, keep it dry (bacteria loves moisture), and every couple of days or so, microwave the wet sponge with a half-cup of water or run it through a dishwasher cycle.

Reuse Your Bags

Keep reusable canvas tote bags on hand at all times. Why? National Geographic reports that they are refined from crude oil and natural gas and are not biodegradable. Invest in a couple of strong totes and keep them in your purse or in your car. You just never really know when you'll need them.

Stop Printing at Home

A study from the National Institute of Public Health found that laser and ink-jet printers emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ozone and particulates that harm both nearby users and the environment. In addition, the process of manufacturing at-home printers releases unsafe air emissions. You and the environment would be better served by using a service like DigMyPics.com, which makes digital copies of your media for emission-free sharing.

Replace Your Light Bulbs

Do you know the most environmentally friendly light source? OK, it's the sun. But the second is an LED light bulb. By replacing your incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs you get longer bulb life, use less electricity and save money in the long run. Choose Energy Star-rated LED lighting to be sure it's as efficient as can be.

Take Your Foot Off the Gas

Hybrids are settling into the mainstream now, paving the way for completely electric vehicles. In addition to using greener transportation modes like bike riding and public transportation, conserve gas by avoiding rapid and unnecessary acceleration and keep your car parts clean and well-maintained.

Buy Locally

Shop at local farmers markets for fresher, more flavorful foods and your money will go back into a sustainable system that advances the local economy. Investing in your community creates jobs and helps solidifying a city's infrastructure. The Austin Independent Business Alliance is campaigning to get people to shift 10 percent to locally owned businesses from chain stores. It will add hundreds of millions to the local economy and create thousands of new jobs.

Ditch Plastic Water Bottles

Get a stainless steel water bottle to fill throughout the day instead of buying single-use bottled water with toxic polycarbonate plastics. While plastic bottles are recyclable, a reported 75 percent of water bottles end up in landfills and pollute waterways because people don't recycle them, according to worldwatch.org.

Some people are never satisfied. Ignoring the fact that gasoline has done a terrific job of powering motorcycles for many years, they insist on exploring alternative fuels. Of course, there are good reasons. Although a small and lightweight motorcycle is an eco-friendly way of getting around town, gasoline is an imperfect fuel source.

Exhaust emissions are top of the issues list. Modern machines are cleaner than those of yore, but still put out a cocktail of smog-creating chemicals— most notably, CO2. The source of the gasoline concerns many people too. Derived from oil, there's a finite supply, and much of it has to be imported. And last, in urban environments where two-wheeled transportation is at its most useful, the noise generated by those mechanical motorcycle parts is a significant problem.

Electricity: The Obvious Alternative

A growing proportion of our electricity comes from renewables, but even when generated from coal or gas it's easier to control the emissions at source. An electric motorcycle has zero emissions at the point of use, but it has other selling points for biking enthusiasts. Electric motors generate instantaneous torque, making these machines remarkably quick. The smoothness is also a boon to riders, and the hush benefits everyone but those who love the throb of a Harley.

Harley riders may enjoy maintaining their machines, but for most bikers it's a chore. Electric power eliminates many motorcycle parts like spark plugs, oil and filters, so maintenance costs are almost zero and reliability is exceptionally good.

As with cars, the Achilles' heel of electric power is battery storage. The energy density of batteries is far less than that of gasoline, meaning range is limited. That's not necessarily a problem in cities though, where riders don't cover great distances, charging points are relatively plentiful, and regenerative braking puts power back into the battery.

Brew Your Own?

If batteries are such a nuisance, how about generating the electricity on-board when you need it?

That's the idea behind fuel cells. These generate electricity from hydrogen, producing water as a byproduct. As Forbes reports, the technology is well established— car manufacturers like Honda and BMW have had fuel-cell development cars running for several years— and a number of motorcycle manufacturers are working on fuel-cell bikes. But if you want to buy one, you'll need to wait a while.

Other fuel sources have been tried. An Argentinean motorcycle company, Zanella, promoted a bike that would run on compressed natural gas, while several enthusiasts have experimented with biodiesel. As a fuel, biodiesel is interesting because it's renewable, but the downsides are noise and exhaust emissions.

This is Not Science Fiction

Electric motorcycles are available now from companies like Evolve, Brammo and Zero. There is more evidence that these are practical alternatives to the old gasoline machines. Consider this: Gizmag.com reports that police forces from Monterey, Calif. to London, England, have tested and are using electric motorcycles.

So what's the future for eco-friendly motorcycles? Electric power is here but range concerns will likely hold back long-distance cruisers. Those folks will have to wait for fuel-cell bikes, but for city use the green motorcycle should satisfy most riders.

As you get started on your spring cleaning, forget about using chemical-filled commercial products. These can waste your money and pollute your breathing air. Instead, make non-toxic natural cleaners with these simple recipes:

Basic Ingredients

• Baking soda: a natural deodorizer, it's perfect for scouring protein, grease and animal messes
• Cornstarch: non-corrosive that's perfect for freshening, absorbing and removing stains
• Distilled white vinegar: mild acid that dissolves stains and cuts scum
• Essential oils: generally high in anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties
• Fresh herbs, citrus or peels: acidic and fragrant
• Olive or vegetable oil: natural
• Water
• Soap

All-Purpose Cleaner

In all rooms, use two cups of white vinegar and water to clean hard surfaces. Add drops of essential oil to mask the smell of vinegar.

Garbage Disposal Deodorizer

If smelly odors are creeping out of your garbage disposal, try this trick. After using a lemon (or lime), slice it into strips and cut the pulp out. Throw it down the disposal with a sprinkle of baking soda and splash of vinegar.

Microwave Cleaner

Hopefully you have a lot of lemons on hand because here's another cleaning recipe with this small citrus as the main ingredient. Fill a bowl full of warm water and lemon slices. Put in the microwave and cook for one minute. Let sit for three minutes, then wipe clean with a damp sponge.

Blinds Cleaner

Put an old tube sock on your hand like a sock puppet and dip it in a bowl of warm water mixed with vinegar. Wipe greasy, dirty, dusty blinds clean. If you have wooden blinds, use lemon oil (not water) to dust them. In some cases, you may be better off tossing the blinds and investing in grommet curtains made from eco-friendly materials or energy-efficient solar shades.

Window Cleaner

Pour 1/4 cup undiluted white vinegar into a spray bottle. Add a tablespoon of cornstarch and fill with warm water. Shake to blend and wipe dry with crumpled newspaper, a cotton rag or coffee filter.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Mix several squirts of liquid dish soap into a cup with about a fourth cup vinegar. Pour mixture into the toilet and let sit for 15 minutes, then start scrubbing.

Carpet Stain Remover

Using a broom, vacuum or warm rag, remove any particles from the carpet before beginning. Next, sprinkle stain with cornstarch or baking soda. In a small bowl, combine one tablespoon clear dish washing liquid, two tablespoons vinegar and two cups of warm water. Blot stain until it's gone.

Carpet Refresher

Leave sprinkled baking soda on the carpet for about 30 minutes before vacuuming it up. If you have young kids or animals that are prone to spills, consider pulling up the carpet and investing in laminate or softwood floors.

Duster

Don't let dust get the best of you. Combine several drops of pure lemon oil with two tablespoons of lemon juice. Add a drop or two of vegetable or olive oil and use a cotton cloth to wipe dust away.

Electric cars have come a long way, but there's a reason why hybrids are still topping the charts and pushing EVs out of sight. Hybrids make sense financially and in terms of range — and they're obviously eco-friendly. On the other hand, electric cars are pricey, time consuming and still in the new stages of development. Either way, you're driving green technology, and that's better than nothing. But realistically speaking, here are four reasons why hybrids win:

Electrics Don't Go the Distance

No matter what anyone says, when it comes to range, EVs just aren't there yet. Out of the newest generation of compact and mid-size electrics, the 2013 CODA gets about 88 miles per charge while the Ford Focus Electric averages 76 miles per charge and the Nissan Leaf came in at 73 miles per charge, according to Fueleconomy.gov. That can cover the average American's commute, but what about road trips? With seven to 12 hours of charging time, electric cars aren't reasonable for anything but a short commute.

Until electric cars can meet society's needs, they won't compare with hybrids. The 2013 Toyota Prius c can run 428 miles on a tank, and uses regenerative brakes to recharge its batteries. If you're looking for a used Toyota in Arlington, the 2010 Toyota Prius gets 536 miles per tank, according to Fueleconomy.gov. Yeah, that's more than the newest all-electric types, and despite driving an older model, you'd still be driving clean, green technology.

It's a Crime How Much They Cost

Let's talk price. First, let me show you something.

MSRP for EVs

• 2013 CODA — $37,250
• 2013 Ford Focus Electric — $39,200
• 2012 Nissan LEAF — $35,200
• 2013 Chevy Volt — $39,145

MSRP for Hybrids

• 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid — $25,200
• 2013 Prius Two — $24,200
• 2012 Honda CR-Z Hybrid $19,695
• 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid — $25,850

Do I need to say anything more? Price wise, even with the potential government tax credits (if qualified, totaling to about $7,500), EVs still can't keep up with hybrids.

Charge Time — Too Much Time

Electric technology is improving that I can't deny, but how much? Over the years, the time it takes to charge an electric car has diminished from 10-12 hours to four to seven hours — a big improvement but still — HOURS. Even if the technology is reducing our dependence on foreign oil supply and can help reduce greenhouse emissions, who has hours to fuel up? Until you can get a full charge while grabbing your soda and a pack of gum in the convenience store, electrics won't match up with hybrids.

Way Too Many Other Options

In general terms, the green movement groups across America are what lead people to electric and hybrid vehicle options. But there are also those who want a form of transportation that doesn't cost them hundreds at the gas pump. In looking for a way to save the planet, reduce their personal carbon footprint and save money at the pump, people are interested in seeing what else is available. In comes flashy technology about all-electrics. But here's the catch. Technology is improving across the board. Conventional cars are also seeing advancement, and in order for electric technology to keep up they're going to have to speed up.

The thought of a decomposing pile of waste sitting in or near the home might be a little off putting to some people, but it's not nearly as much of a hassle as it may seem at a glance. In fact, compost not only provides health and vitality to your garden and lawn, it plays a major part in cutting down greenhouse gas emissions, landfill overflow and even weed control.

You've probably seen scary statistics, like the World Wildlife Fund's study that claims we will need two earths to sustain ourselves by the year 2050, or that the earth's fish supply will run out by the year 2048, but that doesn't have to be the case. As buzzy and ubiquitous as the green movement has become nowadays, there's a reason it's everywhere. According to the EPA, the amount of landfills that exist in the U.S. has been steadily shrinking for the past 20 years or so. This may sound like a good thing, but in actuality we produce more garbage, so the land fills are bursting at the seams with greenhouse gas and sometimes toxic substances. Some landfills, like Cecil County Central Landfill in Elkton, Maryland even require relocation and remediation by third-party companies like Sevenson Environmental. The growing garbage problem is starting to get stinky. Luckily, there's a lot you can do at home to combat it (and look like an earth-saving hero to all your friends), starting with the simple act of composting.

Why It's Helpful

The EPA reports that approximately 17 percent of all methane gas emitted in the U.S. comes from landfills, which lump dangerous refuse with helpful organic material. By starting a compost bin or area for your family, you are lessening toxic contributions to already overcrowded landfills. The EPA estimates that if every household composted their yard trimmings and food scraps, it could reduce the municipal waste stream by up to 25 percent. Furthermore, The United States Composting Council's findings show that for every one ton of composted waste, .25 metric tons of greenhouse gases are prevented. A Sierra Club study concluded that a family of four could easily create 500 pounds of compost in a year. 

A Quick How-To

Did you know that you can compost egg shells, cardboard pizza boxes, nail clippings, old wool or cotton clothing, bills and even condoms? And the list goes on. All you need is a bin, bucket, soil and motivation to make the world a better place for your children. The recipe for compost is simple: use approximately a 1/1 ratio for soil and scraps, alternating approximately four-inch layers. A properly tended compost bin doesn't smell or breed harmful bacteria, as long as you don't add any fats, meats, dairy or oils. Once you begin your foray into greener pastures, be sure to aerate the soil with holes or earthworms. This also quickens the decomposition process. It is also important to stir your compost intermittently so it doesn't become impacted. From there you can use it to make the most beautiful, nutrient-rich garden that your home could ever need— and the earth will thank you.