5/19/12

Every year, millions of birds die when they fly directly into panes of glass. To help our feathered friends, consider leaving your windows a bit dirty or marred so they can recognize the glass when they're flying. Also, consider putting up a reflector -- like a paper cutout or a hanging ornament -- in front of the window as another deterrent to help them avoid a collision.

5/18/12

Take a minute to pull your refrigerator away from the kitchen wall a few inches. By allowing extra air in the back, the condenser coils will work more efficiently, thanks to the increased air circulation. When you have time, pull the fridge out completely and vacuum the back to remove dust and debris. Doing this twice a year will improve the efficiency of your fridge.

5/17/12

To help avoid food waste at home, think like a restaurant chef. Use overripe bananas by mashing them up and mixing them in with pancake batter to make delicious treats for breakfast. Leftover coffee can be frozen in ice cube trays to use in iced coffee drinks. And even leftover oil you've used for frying can be strained through a clean coffee filter to be reused when cooled. Your frugality will make you more creative with your cooking.