Being Green this Summer

English: Series of air conditioners at UNC-CH. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It's no surprise that energy bills are at the highest during the summer. Air conditioning is the number one reason for this, but this wouldn't be much of an article if I just told you to turn up your thermostat a few degrees. During the summer, Americans travel more, spend more time outside, and are just more active during the summer. Here are a few ways you can enjoy the nice weather, and save energy and money at the same time.

Get a bike! I know not everyone can do this, but riding your bike a mile down the road doesn't take long at all, and you get to enjoy the nice weather the summer has to offer. Plus it's great exercise, and if you get into a habit of riding your bike everywhere, you will be burning lots of calories in the long run.

Plan your trips out in advance. Everyone should go on a vacation this summer, but that means venturing out into uncharted territories. One small turn can lead you down a route that requires backtracking, and plain frustration. Wasted gallons of gas can be saved just be bringing a GPS along or just by mapping out your route well in advance. This saves both money and your sanity!