7/31/12

In 2011, more than 635 million people boarded domestic flights in the United States, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. If you're one of those millions of frequent fliers, you know that printing out a boarding pass -- at home or at the airport terminal -- generates a lot of barely recycled paper every day. Do this one thing: Check in online, and have your boarding pass emailed to your smartphone. You can use it to check in at the gate, and you'll be completely paperless.

7/30/12

If you have an older home, take a look at your refrigerator and dishwasher and determine if they need to be replaced based on age. A dishwasher made before 1994 likely adds $40 a year to your utility bill and wastes more than 10 gallons of water each time you use it. If you have a fridge from the '80s, you could save $100 a year by replacing it; if it's from the '70s, you can recoup more than $200 a year. Replacing these items with energy-efficient models can help you save money and the environment.

7/29/12

Have a bumper crop of tomatoes, corn or other healthy fruits and vegetables in your garden? If you hate to see your cornucopia of produce go to waste, donate it. The nonprofit organization AmpleHarvest.org has a complete database of food pantries around the U.S., which helps gardeners donate excess harvests. Even if you don't garden, you can help update the database by working with local food banks to see what they need throughout the year.