Many of us look for BPA-free cans when buying beans, soups and vegetables. But when it comes to tomatoes, even BPA-free cans can still have a chemical lining, since tomatoes are so acidic. When shopping for tomatoes, look beyond cans and for packaging called Tetra Pak. They are cardboard containers that are BPA-free and recyclable. And when you can't find Tetra Paks, look for good old-fashioned glass jars; most health food stores carry tomatoes in glass jars.

When you buy new electronics or a bottle of vitamins, little packets marked "Do Not Eat" are thrown inside to absorb moisture, which helps preserve freshness and prevents damage. These are called silica packets, and they are made from a porous natural mineral that absorbs water. There's no need to throw away these packets -- you can reuse them to keep things like your toolbox, photos and dresser drawers fresh. And you can reactivate silica packets: Just place them on a cookie tray in a 275-degree oven for about an hour to dry them out.

Want to get free energy-saving LED lightbulbs, night lights and water-efficient showerhead aerators for your home? A program called My Energy Kit by Duke Energy has a goal to save more than 10 million kilowatt-hours of energy in the 2017 school year. To help reach this goal, the company is offering free energy kits to schools and families. Each kit contains both information on how to conserve at home and the tools needed to do it. To see if you're eligible for a free kit, visit myenergykit.org.