The Office of General Services [1] and other state agencies unveiled Tuesday in honor of Earth Day initiatives to help reduce pollution rate and reduce fossil-fuel usage. The new Carpool and Save Program plans to help 400 state employees to save money, and better the planet.

With gas prices escalating, OGS's employee Walter Oche said he expects to save as much as $1,500 a year in gas and parking.

According to Albany Times Union [2] , another initiative the OGS has is revamping operations in its two-dozen cafeterias throughout the sate. By August 2008 the OGS hopes to compost food waste and switch from petroleum-based polystyrene foam products to dish ware, cups and utensils made of bamboo, grass, and sugar cane.

Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released a report [2] on Tuesday on how municipalities can save on energy costs. State environmental officials planned a yearlong contest among schools, to boost the recycling rate, introduce food composting, and to reduce waste and energy,