Here's an old-fashioned tip worth repeating: Use ceiling fans to keep rooms cooler during the summer months. Ceiling fans are designed to move two ways -- clockwise and counterclockwise. In the summer months, adjust your fan to go counterclockwise, which draws warm air up and brings cooler air down. In the winter months, the reverse setting will have the opposite effect by pushing warm air into the room.

Invited to a potluck celebration this Fourth of July and not much of a cook? Instead of bringing something unappetizing or a bottle of wine, bring something green. Offer to bring reusable plates, cups and utensils and cloth napkins. They're stylish upgrades from disposables, and they'll be a welcome addition. When the event is over, place everything into a portable cooler and wash them at home. It's the same amount of work as making food, and it's a surprising (and welcome) offer to the host.

Do you use mouthwash every morning? Here's a simple trick to get double-duty from your morning gargle. When you fill a cup with mouthwash, leave a little behind after you sip. Then place your toothbrush in the cup for about 15 to 20 minutes. The disinfecting properties of the mouthwash will sanitize your toothbrush. When you're done with that, dump the residual mouthwash into the toilet; it will also sanitize your toilet bowl. And don't forget to recycle your old mouthwash bottle (with the cap on!) in your curbside recycling when it's empty.