If you have a backyard pool, one of the best investments you can make to make it as energy-efficient as possible and to reduce the amount of chemicals needed to treat it is to update the pool pump. Modern-day pool pumps are designed to use variable speeds, which improve efficiency and move water with less energy. Better-working pumps mean less cleaning, fewer chemical treatments and overall savings on energy usage. Also, consider investing in a solar cover; it cuts back on water evaporation when the pool isn't being used, and it uses the power of the sun to heat the pool.

Is your grill's propane tank no longer refillable, or outright broken? Most tanks last about seven years and can be refilled over that period of time. But when it's time to replace it, keep in mind that most trash haulers don't accept the 20-pound tanks. The good news: They are recyclable. Most household hazardous waste (HHW) collection sites (or special dates in your community when HHW is collected) will accept them for proper disposal. Also, major propane tank brands, like AmericaGas and Blue Rhino, accept them for recycling, and your local retailer may also take them back, too.

To combat mosquitoes invading your backyard, be diligent about standing water. Mosquitoes need as little as a tablespoon of water to lay eggs, so take the time to look for potential breeding sites. Things like broken water fountains, birdbaths, pets' water bowls and even clogged gutters can be the perfect habitats. Buckets, watering cans and anything used to hold water should be flipped upside down or drained and dried in the sun. If you have a rain barrel, add a little vegetable oil after a rainstorm; the oil will float to the top and suffocate any mosquito larvae that may be there.