Here's an old but good tip about what to do with burned-out compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL): recycle them. While CFLs do last a lot longer than incandescent bulbs, they eventually die, and they contain a toxic material -- mercury -- that shouldn't be thrown in the trash. Fortunately, Lowe's, the Home Depot and TrueValue hardware stores all accept unbroken CFL bulbs in-store for recycling in drop-off recycling bins. It's important to put the bulbs in the recycling bin plastic bags that are provided individually, seal them up and carefully deposit them into the bin.

If you feel like lingering in a hot shower to luxuriate and relax a little, why not take a bath instead? A typical shower uses about 5 gallons of water per minute, while a hot bath uses around 30 gallons total. If you shower longer than 6 minutes, a nice hot bubble bath will actually be much more water-efficient. And with a bath, you can linger and soak for as long as you want, all without the guilt of wasting water.

The refrigerator is one of the biggest energy hogs in the house, so it's key to make sure it runs efficiently to save electricity and money. If you don't use your automatic icemaker often, consider turning it off. A study by Time magazine found that the average icemaker increases energy usage by 12 to 20 percent. By simply turning it off, you'll significantly improve efficiency. Want ice? Consider filling silicone ice cube trays with water and using them instead of an automatic icemaker.