9/27/09

If you donate food to a local food drive or shelter, good for you! But take it one step further and be sure to check the expiration dates on the cans and boxes of food before donating. Also avoid the temptation to give away unusual gourmet or specialty foods like exotic mushrooms or pate and stick to foods that families really need, like canned vegetables, pasta sauce, macaroni and cheese and soups. If you want to be extra generous, buy a bulk supply of baby formula, diapers and food, which seem to be in the most demand at food banks.

9/26/09

When cooking on electric stovetops, use the right size burners for the right size pans. If you're just frying an egg in a small pan, use the smaller burner; use the larger ones for stock pots or large skillets. Using a larger burner to heat up a small pan or pot can use up to 40 percent too much energy.

9/25/09

If you're trying to find a new home for a piece of furniture, a bag of clothes, an old chandelier or anything that's hard to recycle, give FreeCycle a try. This free Web site connects people giving away their things to people who need those things. It's organized by ZIP codes, so you'll only be reaching people in your community. No money can ever exchange hands and everything has to be totally free. Learn more at freecycle.org.