Every little bit counts when it comes to saving energy! Here's a simple tip: Turn off the stove a few minutes before your food is done cooking. When making pasta, bring a pot of water to a boil and then add pasta; turn off the heat and put a lid on top of the pot. If you add about five more minutes to the pasta cook time, you'll get perfectly cooked al dente pasta every single time and will save energy and money. And remember -- cooled pasta water is nutrient-rich water your outdoor plants will love.

Old-fashioned pressure cookers used to be precarious to use since they could literally explode if the tight seal got loose. But new designs and safety latches make modern-day pressure cookers safe and a breeze to use. One reason to consider a pressure cooker when making dinner is that they use around 70 percent less energy than a conventional cooktop. And the possibilities are endless: Soups, stews, pasta dishes and even desserts can be whipped up in a pressure cooker.

To fully charge your smartphone, you usually need about 30 minutes. But if you plug in your phone before you go to sleep at night, not only are you wasting energy charging a fully powered phone, you're also causing strain on the battery. Look for electric outlet adapters that have a built-in timer. These timers can be set for 30 minutes, three or six hours and then automatically cut off the power source. This lets you sleep, save energy and protect your pricey smartphone, too.