Potato chips, crackers and other snack foods that come in bags can be a delicious treat, but they can also be deadly for pets and wildlife. Since the residual crumbs and smells of food can linger inside bags, they are tempting to animals. In the trash, many animals will seek them out and stick their hands inside, which can deprive them of oxygen and cause them to suffocate. When you are done with your favorite snack foods, cut the bags open before you discard them. You'll be saving lives!

You notice that the dryer ate one of your socks, so you wonder to yourself, are single socks recyclable? The answer may surprise you: yes. Even though they seem unsellable at charity stores like Goodwill, the nonprofit will gladly take your single socks off your hands. Only a small percentage of donated clothes actually get resold in Goodwill stores. The remaining items (like torn T-shirts and holey or single socks) get separated and sold to textile recyclers. These recyclers break down the material and use it for things like home and car insulation.

In 2004, the Environmental Protection Agency launched a program called SmartWay to work with freight supply chain operators (think freight trucks) to find ways to maximize their fuel efficiency and lower emissions. Recently, SmartWay has expanded into the rental car market to encourage companies to rent out cars that are the most fuel-efficient in their category. When renting a car, look for SmartWay-certified ones to help you save fuel and money with your rental. A general rule of thumb is this: Most vehicles in economy, compact and intermediate classes are SmartWay certified. But when in doubt, ask.