Save some energy, while you're at it!

It's no secret that I took Captain Planet to heart when I learned about the three R's: Recycle, Reduce, Reuse. To focus on a current buzzword, energy, saving money and reducing emissions is all about that middle one - cut down on your use! There are so many easy ways to do this. A few of the best I'm personally invested in are...

- Energy Efficient Computing!
This one is especially important. I wish more companies would get on the bandwagon with this; think of all the money wasted and gases created by leaving computer-centered offices on all night (not to mention clusters in Universities.. cough CMU cough). However, just as a public service announcement:

do *NOT* leave your laptop plugged in and charging overnight.

Also easy to do but worth noting is turning off and unplugging lights and appliances when you're done using them. I can't describe how many times a day I walk around and turn off things people have forgotten about. Also crucial are unplugging adapters that draw power when appliances are turned off. The point: the era of electronic thoughtlessness is coming to a close.

- Hybrid cars (much borrowed from hybridreview)
Some calculations indicate that, along with the well-known superiority in terms of miles per gallon of gas, costs for operating hybrid cars are now competitive with those of traditional cars, with only 3-7 years ownership (that's nothing -- I drove a 1992 car until recently). This means savings for the environment and for your wallet. That's a powerful combination!

Tax incentives currently abound for buying hybrid cars - one bill Bush managed to do right. Though some are diminishing as years go by due to sales, many still apply. See if the car you're thinking about using qualifies, then go for it! Sooner might be better.

- Alternative Energy and Fuel Technology
This one's a biggie; I'm considering of applying for jobs in this area. My biggest concern is the emissions of the new fuels; I have yet to hear of a new fuel that lives up to be a) non-oil derived and b) doesn't deplete our crops and c) emits less CO2 per mile driven.
I love the idea of using ethanol fuel, especially using cellulose as a source and genetically-engineered E. Coli to get the job done; it's cool, it's high-tech, and the government has already looked into it - but the infrastructure isn't there, not to mention what the actual environmental impact would be.. I have no idea. I will definitely be alert to news in this area.