Advice on Wooing Water Wasters

Hey Mr. Green,
How can I convince others that household water conservation is important?
--Matthew in New Paltz, New York

Hey Matthew,
You better believe conservation is important: Waste precious water and you should be sentenced to take a cold shower with Dick Cheney. You can choose from gallons of arguments to convince people of this, but let's start with four points--pollution, wildlife, money, and stench.

When lakes, rivers, and underground aquifers contain less water (in part because more of it is irrigating lawns and dripping from faucets), pollutants become more concentrated. If we decrease water use, it could reduce the need for new dams and reservoirs that can mess up wildlife habitat.

The Truth About Safety, Size, and Saving Gas

Hey Mr. Green,
Why do today's subcompact cars have such poor fuel economy compared with those made 20 years ago? Some people claim that safety requirements have added weight and lowered gas mileage.
--Robert in Wallkill, New York

Hey Robert,
U.S. automakers turned to power and speed because there's more profit in a big, fast luxury model than a rinky-dink Lynx or Sprint. Claims that safety rules add significant weight are wrong. By 2001, they had boosted weight by an average of only 125 pounds--less than some drivers have gained since Ralph Nader started hounding Detroit to make safer cars in the '60s. Air bags, seat belts, head restraints, electronic stability controls, and smarter frame designs don't weigh a whole lot.