ECO.lution is a series of community-focused interactive events designed to educate and engage the public in making Tampa a sustainable city.  ECO.lution will be held April 17-22, 2008 at unique locations throughout downtown Tampa including Lykes Gaslight Park, the Franklin Street Mall, the TECO gallery and Kiley Gardens.  Below are a list of ECO.lution events if you would like to attend:

Thursday April 17 ECO.expo Project ZERO 5:30-9:00pm
TECO Public Art Gallery 702 North Franklin Street Tampa, FL 33602, Downtown Tampa
Come visit this architectural and interiors expo to learn more about going green, “Cradle to Cradle” life-cycle products and sustainability practices.  Also, Nancy Walker president of Walker Brand Communications, will speak about The OWNER’S Role in Green Building Design at Teco Hall.  This is a free event!

Friday April 18 Paint The Town Green 6:00pm-12:00pm
Downtown Tampa, Channelside and Ybor City
COme out for a “Trolley-Style” barhop using HART transit & TECO Street Cars.  Stops include over 20 destinations including, restaurant, bars & art galleries.  Passports cost $10 or two for $15.

Saturday April 19 ECO.lution Festival 10am-5:00pm
Spend the day at this fun-filled festival including green products exhibitions, sustainability seminars, family educational events, live music and much more!  The action takes place at Lykes Gaslight Park in Downtown Tampa, 400 North Franklin Street, Tampa, FL 33602.
Featured activities include:
- Children can tap into their artistic side compliments of Busch Gardens who will host a kids art activities.  Busch Gardens will also donate tickets to Busch Gardens, Sea World and Adventure Island
- Anderson Lesniak, a landscape architectural firm will be there teaching children on to pot a plant
- A live artist will re-create the art work stolen from the 900 block of Franklin Street from ART Loud.  We will be re-dedicating at the end of the day.
- Enjoy live music and performances all day!
This is a free event!

Tuesday April 22 Movie On The Lawn 8:00pm
Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Downtown Tampa
Autodesk’s revolutionary e2 series movies shown “alfresco” on the lawn at Tampa’s own Performing Arts Center. 
This is a free event!

For more information about any of teh ECO.lution events, visit http://www.ecolutiontampa.com.

And did you know, there are a few easy ways every driver can go green.  Take a look at these 8 tips from the American Lung Association:
1. Trip chain more often: combine your errands into one trip. It helps you get things done and it helps reduce air pollution. When you first start a car after it has been sitting for more than an hour, it pollutes up to five times more than when the engine’s warm.

2. Take mass transit, share a ride, or car pool. Even if you do it just once or twice a week, you’ll reduce traffic congestion and pollution, and save money. The average driver spends about 44 cents per mile including ownership and maintenance.

3. Have fun! Ride your bike. It’s a great way to travel and it can help you and the air get into condition. Vehicles on the road create more than 25% of all air pollution nationwide.

4. Take things in stride. Walk or in-line skate instead of driving. They’re easy ways to get exercise and they’re easy on the air.

5. Care for your car. Regular maintenance and tune-ups, changing the oil and checking tire inflation can improve gas mileage, extend your car’s life and increase its resale value. It can also reduce traffic congestion due to preventable breakdowns and it could reduce your car’s emissions by more than half.

6. Get fuel when it’s cool. Refueling during cooler periods of the day or in the evening can prevent gas fumes from heating up and creating ozone. And that can help reduce ozone alert days.

7. Don’t top off the tank. It releases gas fumes into the air and cancels the benefits of the pump’s anti-pollution devices. So stopping short of a full tank is safer and reduces pollution.

8. Telecommute. Work at home sometimes. You’ll save time and money, and reduce emissions and traffic congestion.