According to the Environmental Protection Agency, we throw away about 35 million tons of food every year. Even though food waste is organic, in a landfill condition it can degrade and create methane gas, which is a potent greenhouse gas. The simplest way to combat this is to stop the waste. Buy in bulk only if you really need it; while it may be tempting to get a huge jar of artisanal olives, ask yourself if you're really going to eat all of it. Also, use a shopping list at the grocery store; the EPA estimates people who use a list stick to meal plans. Finally, before you head to the store, look inside your fridge and pantry. If you can make a meal, do it.

We use our showers every day, but do you give much thought to the health of your showerhead? Take a close look: Do you see small black dots on the face of the head? It may be black mold. One way to disinfect your showerhead is to disconnect it and submerge it in hydrogen peroxide. Do this for one hour, and then reattach it. Run the hottest water you have for a few minutes to flush it all out. This will remove the harmful mold without the need to totally replace the showerhead.

Do you have a swimming pool at home? With the end of the summer season around the corner, there's no need to totally drain the pool when you can find uses for the water around your yard. First, remove all the skimmers with chlorine tablets from the pool. Then fill a few buckets, watering cans and other containers with the pool water. Let the water sit outside for one week so the chlorine can dissipate. Use this water to hydrate your outdoor plants and lawn. The remaining pool water is still good until it's time to close up your pool for the season.