If you’re feeling so happy you’re tempted to break into song about an American car company getting into the hybrid game — and getting 41 MPG, as Ford clams for its new 2010 Fusion — then sign up to win one. Ford, the sponsor, will also award the winner a trip to LA plus VIP seats to hang with the idols at the show. The only catch – you have to watch a video of the idols fooling around with Ford cars in order to enter this contest. If that seems like too much to ask, see if you can find a teenager lurking nearby to handle this part of the transaction. But then you just might have to share driving rights. Your choice. We just tell you where to go to find greener pastures – the journey is up to you. Start here. Deadline: 5-08-09.

Photo credit: LA Times

]]> http://www.goodgreentips.com/2009/04/green-freebie-win-a-ford-fusion-hybrid-%e2%80%93-plus-a-trip-to-see-american-idols/feed/ 0 http://www.goodgreentips.com/2009/03/send-this-to-your-favorite-college-students-only-win-a-free-toyota-prius/ http://www.goodgreentips.com/2009/03/send-this-to-your-favorite-college-students-only-win-a-free-toyota-prius/#comments Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:10:00 +0000 susan http://www.goodgreentips.com/?p=693 By Susan Seliger
Every prize you can win in this “Live Green/Get Green” contest – except the big Grand Prize — was created with materials that would have gone to waste – but now can find a home with your favorite college student. If you’re over 18 and enrolled in a college or university, you can enter this General Mills contest every hour, for a chance to win some little green stuff (like a recycled Nature Valley messenger tote bag, Chex Mix laptop portfolio sleeve, or a Lucky Charms notebook). Each entry steps up your chances at the biggie – the fuel-efficient 2009 Prius.  So if you want to be a big green hero on campus and save energy and money while driving your friends around  (not to mention getting to back up like a pro using that cool TV screen gizmo) , start clicking – the deadline is April 30.

Photo credit: http://www.cyclelicio.us/

By Susan Seliger

You want to save energy, save money and save the planet, right?  So why not shoot your own little home video and show other Americans how they can be smarter in their energy use. Just a little 30-second video – and you could win $10,000.

That’s all there is to it. The video contest is sponsored by Smart Power, an organization devoted to helping Americans become smarter about their energy use.

Need inspiration? Smart Power offers these factoids on energy use to get your creative green juices flowing:

• Phantom load (the energy that appliances continue to draw when you think they’re off – but they’re still plugged in) wastes roughly the same amount of energy as produced by 18 power plants!

• If every American home replaced just one incandescent light bulb with a CFL bulb, we would save enough energy to light 3 million homes for a year, save over $600 million and reduce the emissions equivalent to 800,000 cars.

• If you are using a second refrigerator in your basement or garage, consider getting rid of it — you’d save over $100 per year.

So start shooting. The deadline for this Smart Power: Let’s Get Energy Smart contest is Earth Day — April 22, 2009.

]]> http://www.goodgreentips.com/2009/01/win-10000-show-others-how-to-save-energy-in-a-30-second-video/feed/ 0 http://www.goodgreentips.com/2008/12/green-freebie-win-5-free-trips-to-see-the-natural-wonders-of-the-world-%e2%80%93-machu-picchu-anyone/ http://www.goodgreentips.com/2008/12/green-freebie-win-5-free-trips-to-see-the-natural-wonders-of-the-world-%e2%80%93-machu-picchu-anyone/#comments Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:13:48 +0000 susan http://www.goodgreentips.com/?p=484 By Susan Seliger

Does this happen to you? Once you start dreaming about exotic places you’d love to escape to – natural wonders of the world where there are no malls or tinsel or shopping lists – you just can’t stop. There are so many things you haven’t done yet in life — like a safari on the Serengeti in Tanzania or swimming with the sea lions in the Galapagos or a trek to the Amazon and Machu Picchu – just puckering up to say Machu Picchu puts me in an adventurous state of mind.

Well, stop dreaming – Natural Habitat Adventures has come to the rescue. This eco-conscious company is offering, not one but FIVE,  big vacations for two – one every year for five years – to the most exciting natural destinations in the world. Beyond those mentioned in my dreams, they’ve also got trips to walk with the penguins in Antarctica and the Falklands as well as a trip to Manitoba to schmooze with the polar bears.

I’ve entered – and so can you – every day up until the deadline, Feb. 28, 2009. Hope to see you there – if not, give the sea lions a smooch for me. Start clicking.

Photo credit: Llama in Macchu Picchuu: from Nurse healthwriter blog

They’re oh so cute – those Mini Coops and fuel-efficient, too. They make you want to tie a ribbon on one and drive it right over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house you go for the holidays. Well, maybe you can – for free.

Champignon Minis is giving away one Mini Cooper, valued at over $18,000, just in time for the holidays. It won’t take a miracle — just a click. So see if you can get lucky before the deadline: 12-31-08.

(Photo credit: The Horse’s Mouth )

What better holiday present for yourself – or a friend you like to drive around with – than a cute, fuel-efficient, smart fortwo car? (This gift will be appreciated by four-legged friends as well. ) Even better — you may be able to get it free. You could be one of the 12 lucky winners in the QVC 12 Days of Christmas Sweepstakes who will drive one away.

And if you don’t win the green car, you still have over 1000 chances to win another form of green — free shopper dollars worth anywhere from $50 to $250. The deadline is 12-12-08.

(Photo credit: Smart Car Blog)

This eco-friendly cruise couldn’t come at a better time. The recent cold snap along with the chilly, lonely feeling I get when I look at my retirement savings (what retirement savings?!) has put me in the mood for a trip to a sunny place. Though in this economy, I probably wouldn’t turn down a free, seven-day cruise even in the summer.

In addition to an eco-friendly cruise ship, and vegetarian feasts on board, you’ll also be treated to daily spa treatments along with yoga and meditation classes. The perfect antidote to financial angst. Dust off your mantra — I’m thinking of trading in my current one: It’s only money for an updated version: Yes, you Om.

But hurry up—not much time. The deadline is nigh. The sponsors of this cruise contest – Yoga Journal and Earth® Footwear – are giving you until 11-30-08 to try your luck. Go on — click – you don’t even have to buy a lottery ticket.