Whether you've just tuned up your auto insurance, or are looking to insure your first car, chances are you've gone to the internet to compare rate quotes, but perhaps you didn't know that using the internet can also help you save cash and save the planet, two things that are crucial as we near the time of peak oil.

While reducing your spending at the pump or on your premium may not be so simple, here are some steps you can take at home and behind the wheel, to reduce your carbon footprint.

At Home

Use online bill-pay features. Most banks have some form of online bill payment, and if your bank does not, chances are most of the companies you deal with DO. Not only do you often earn a discount on insurance for setting up automatic electronic payments, but even just selecting online billing can help the environment by reducing the amount of paper needed to generate and send a bill.

Prioritize your printing. At home and at work, pause before you hit the print button and ask yourself if you really need to use paper. Also, if you're printing something like directions, consider using the blank side of documents you no longer need. Other tips to reduce paper usage include editing on the screen rather than on paper, and using smaller fonts and narrower margins to fit more words on a page.

Recycle. Believe it or not, most communities in the United States do not have mandatory recycling programs. If yours does, be sure you're participating. If not, recycle anyway, or pester your local government to start one.

Behind the Wheel

Rediscover your bike. If you live close to work, consider dragging your bicycle out of storage before high summer arrives. You might find that you enjoy a lazy ride to and from work with singing birds providing tunes for your trip, and you'll get healthier in the process.

Consider carpooling. The average commuter produces about 3.4 tons of CO2 in a single year, so if you share your ride with just one other person, you're cutting that amount in half. Many communities and companies offer ride sharing programs, and one of the fringe benefits is that on mornings when it's not your turn to drive, you can actually enjoy the coffee you're bringing to work in a reusable thermal mug.

Take the bus or train. Mass transit isn't just for teenagers and senior citizens. Since fewer cars on the road means less pollution in the air, taking the bus or train is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. As well, it's a fabulous opportunity for people-watching.

Get a hybrid car. Hybrids are the new black when it comes to automobile fashion. Not only do they offer 10-20 more miles per gallon than standard gas-only cars, but they also come with insurance discounts and sometimes even tax credits.

Using the internet, printing less, and recycling probably aren't very difficult, but if forgoing your own car a few days a week does, consider that the less you drive, the less risk you have of being in an accident. While a clean driving record doesn't do much for the environment, it does keep your insurance premiums low.

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Before you pick up the phone to shop for auto insurance, consider this: people who use the internet to compare offers save 25% more than people who don't.