Here's another reason to bring your workout outdoors instead of the gym: The treadmill is an energy hog. An average treadmill uses about 600 to 700 watts of energy per hour; that's equal to leaving a few large flat-screen TVs on at the same time. If you spend two or more hours a week walking on a treadmill, the carbon emissions would equal about 1 percent of a car's output. So if it's a nice day, why not go for a walk instead? And whenever possible, unplug the treadmill when not in use, since even in sleep mode, it still uses a small amount of energy.

One of the easiest ways to save water at home is to install low-flow fixtures in the bathroom. Not only is it easy to find low-flow showerheads, you can find even greener options that have a pause button on them. This button shuts off the water while you lather up or add conditioner. When you're ready to rinse off, you just hit the button, and it's ready to go at the right temperature. When shopping for showerheads, look for ones marked WaterSense, which are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. This mark helps you find the greenest and most efficient choices in stores and online.

Did you know one of the easiest ways to disinfect and deodorize shoes is with just a few sheets of newspaper? Newspaper is designed to absorb ink; it also absorbs other things, too, like excess moisture and odors. So stuff the toes of your shoes with newspaper to keep them dry and smelling good. The newspaper also helps shoes keep their shape. You can also place shoes on top of sheets of newspaper; all of the dirt, chemicals and other toxins on the bottom of your shoes will absorb right into the paper.