As more of us live a greener life and it becomes increasingly mainstream, manufacturers are making it easier to find eco-friendly products. One product worth seeking out is aluminum foil made from recycled aluminum. In comparison to foil made from virgin material, recycled foil uses a whopping 95 percent less energy to make. And remember that used, clean recycled foil can be wadded up and tossed right into the recycling bin. Aluminum is infinitely recyclable.

When renovating a kitchen, the choices you make for major appliances can have a profound impact on the overall energy use and bottom line. New technology in ovens allows for even cooking and energy savings. It's called convection cooking, which circulates heated air around food, and it makes your oven bake, roast and broil more efficiently. It reduces overall cooking time and can save you about 20 percent in energy costs in comparison to a standard oven.

Have something unusual, odd or hard-to-recycle you'd like to, well, recycle? The website caretorecycle.com makes it easy. All you have to do is type in the odd item you'd like to recycle -- anything from grass clippings to old grills -- and your ZIP code, and the site will point you to the recycling centers nearest you. It includes the recycler, address, phone number and even hours of operation.