With the average U.S. household spending around $2,000 annually on energy costs, there are lots of things you can do to cut waste and save money. While going around the house and unplugging everything is effective, it's not the most practical solution. The Department of Energy has come up with a list of 12 energy guzzlers that draw power when plugged into a socket, even if they're turned off. While things like telephones and modems may be tricky to turn off, items like computers, televisions, DVD players, toaster ovens, coffee makers, stereos, phone chargers and even lamps in rarely used rooms can help make a difference. Unplugging these items can reduce your bill by as much as 10 percent -- or $200.

In theory, shopping for vintage ceramic plates, cups and bowls at antique stores, thrift shops and flea markets is an eco-friendly way to set your table, but you could be exposing yourself to unhealthy levels of lead. In the 1980s, ceramics manufactured in countries like Mexico, Spain, Italy and China were found to have high levels of lead, and many of those items are marketed as "vintage" or "antique" to unsuspecting shoppers. If you love antique hunting, invest in an instant lead detection kit. Just rub the swab on the item, and if it turns red, it's got lead.

Many of us avoid store-bought microwave popcorn because of chemicals that are often used, like nonstick coating inside the bag and artificial butter flavoring. But making your own microwave popcorn using regular brown paper sandwich bags isn't any better. There are adhesives used in the making of the bag that can melt and seep into your warm popcorn. Instead, make popcorn the old fashioned way -- on a stovetop -- or invest in an air popper, which uses just heat and hot air to pop kernels.