Energy...

Millions of kids are about to go back to school next week -- right alongside millions of adults looking to take their careers to the next level.

This year, more and more of college students adults will be attending school online. Online education programs offer the same benefits of in-person learning, but they save energy not only for the students but also for the schools.

For one thing, you don't need to drive to online classes. Schools are rarely in your own neighborhood, so driving to a class several miles away uses a lot of gas and creates a cloud of greenhouse emissions. With online classes, your car stays in the driveway, and you stay comfortable next to your own computer.

Meanwhile, with no students on site, schools don't need to worry about lighting, heating, cooling, or other costs.

There are other enviornmental benefits: most classwork is done online, so no assignments need to be printed, saving paper and trees. More textbooks are available digitally, which saves more trees and offers greater flexibility of usage. Online colleges feed fewer students in their cafeterias, which saves water from washing all of those dishes and trays. 

Online course enrollments have doubled and tripled over the last year, as people look to reduce their driving costs and improve their quality of life. It might be time for you to think about doing the same.