One of the best things you can do to help your landscaping and garden thrive and grow is use mulch. Mulching locks in moisture -- great for summer droughts -- and can block out light to prevent weeds from growing. But instead of buying pricey wood mulch, use what you already have: grass clippings. Just remove fresh grass clippings from the lawnmower bag and mulch away. Not only does it help cool the soil and conserve moisture, it also adds nutrients. About 25 percent of the nutrients the grass removes from the soil will be redeposited if you mulch with grass.

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.