Many of us know not to place a refrigerator next to a heat source like an oven, but did you know you should also avoid a sunny spot in your kitchen? Since radiant heat that comes from the sun through your windows is warm, when the sun's rays hit your refrigerator, it, too, warms up. If your refrigerator warms up, it needs to work extra hard (using extra energy) to keep things cool and frozen inside. By avoiding sunny spots or drawing the blinds down to block sun from hitting your fridge, you can save energy.

The most-used appliance that has the shortest lifecycle is the coffeemaker. The reason why is simple: They get used often, and they are usually left on for hours at a time. To maximize the lifespan, clean it by mixing equal parts water and white vinegar in the coffeepot, and run it through the whole process, as if you were brewing a pot of joe. This removes trace minerals and buildup inside. Then run a whole pot of regular water to remove the faint taste of vinegar. If you can, don't allow a freshly made pot of coffee to sit on a burner all day long; this wastes energy and wears out the machine.

If you replace only one thing in your house to save water, think about replacing your showerhead. But how can you tell if your showerhead needs to be replaced or is already efficient enough? Start with a gallon bucket and turn on the shower; if the bucket fills up in less than 20 seconds, it needs to be replaced. When shopping, look for a showerhead that is WaterSense approved; it's a designation from the Environmental Protection Agency that identifies the most water-efficient products in the marketplace. This new showerhead will use less water than your old model.