Wild animals don't know the difference between food that's good for them and a meal that can harm them. One way we can help wildlife from harming themselves is to make our trash as unappealing as possible. According to the Humane Society of the United States, one way to do that is to make sure all recyclables are rinsed out to remove all food remnants and odors. Animals like skunks can get their heads stuck in containers in search of food. Also, be sure any plastic food wrap is rinsed and then placed inside another container inside of the trash can; food wrap can be ingested when animals think it's food, so make it impossible for them to get their paws on it.

We drag our suitcases, carry-on bags and backpacks all over the country (or world) when we travel, and when we get home, we wash all of our clothes but don't think twice about the actual bag. One of the easiest ways to give bed bugs a free ride into your home is through your luggage. Try this simple trick to see if your bags have bed bugs: Blow a hot hair dryer all over it. Use slow and steady motions to blow hot air along the edges and corners of the bag. Since bed bugs do not like heat, they will show themselves. If you see them, take steps to fully disinfect your bag outside of the home before bringing it back indoors.

Despite the ecological lessons we've learned about plastic bottled water, it's still growing in popularity, with sales skyrocketing across the country. Only a small percentage of plastic bottles are actually recycled, and it's not necessarily better for you to drink bottled water, either. If you're unsure about making the switch to drinking filtered tap water, maybe this other green fact will change your mind: You'll save about $1,400 a year by ditching bottled water. Move to tap water, and you'll spend less than $1 for the whole year's worth of drinking water. Make 2015 the year to go bottleless.