Burning firewood that isn't properly seasoned can lead to inefficient burning, pollution and smoke. One way to tell if your firewood is seasoned -- meaning dry enough -- is to simply bang two pieces together. If it sounds hollow, it's likely seasoned. If the wood sounds solid and dull, it's wet and should not be used. Other indicators include the color of the wood. If it's gray or yellow, it's had time to dry out. And the final test: If you're burning firewood and hear a hissing sound, it means the firewood is wet and should be left to season for a few months more.

Even with energy-efficient CFL and LED light bulbs, you can still save even more energy and money at home by using a dimmer switch. For lighting fixtures that are on for the majority of the day, replacing a standard switch with a dimmer switch can mean saving around 4 to 9 percent in energy costs. The more you dim, the more you save. And while most people associate dimmer switches with saving on traditional incandescent bulbs, CFL, LED and halogen bulbs can also be used. An average house can recoup about 20 percent in lighting cost savings per year with this simple switch.

Paper is paper, right? When recycling old office paper or magazines, you'd be surprised to learn that shredded paper is not desirable. Since a recycler can't always tell the difference between glossy, shiny paper, and plastic report covers and metal pieces, which contaminate the load, the whole bale could be tossed. Instead, tear recyclable paper and put truly confidential docs through the shredder and use the trash to dispose of it.