When it's time to replace your worn-out bath towels, don't throw them in the trash. Instead, give them one last wash and dry at home, then take them to your local animal shelter. Animal shelters are always in dire need of towels because they can be used for a whole host of purposes -- from drying animals and cleaning to playing games and lining beds. Because the towels are soft and absorbent, they'll already be broken in enough to keep the animals warm.

Modern dishwashers are designed to not only get your pots, pans, cutlery and dishes sparkling clean, but to do it using less water and energy. But even with the most efficient dishwasher, there are small tricks you can do to save even more energy when running a full load of dishes. If you have a booster heater in your dishwasher, lower the temperature by 20 degrees (to around 120 degrees). By lowering the temperature, you'll still get clean dishes, and it speeds up the whole dishwashing process. You save energy and time with this one simple trick.

America is on a health kick lately, making fresh smoothies using greens like spinach, kale and parsley. But if you're finding it tough to always have a stash of fresh greens on hand since they can wilt quickly in your refrigerator, try freezing them. Not only does freezing greens prolong their life, it's pretty easy to do in one simple step. Fill a blender with washed greens. Then add 1 cup of filtered water. Blend for one minute, and pour the mixture into muffin tins or ice cube trays. Freeze and store your cubes of greens in airtight freezer bags or BPA-free storage containers and toss them into the blender when it's smoothie time!