When you’re deep in sleep and under layers of warm, comfy blankets at night, you can do one thing to save money on your heating bill. If you turn back the thermostat by 10 to 15 degrees for the hours you’re asleep, it equals about 10 percent savings in a year. Of course, a programmable thermostat can automatically do this for you, but if you don’t have one of those, just remembering to do it manually will also do the trick. And don't forget to open the drapes on the south side of your home during the day; the sun’s rays will naturally heat up the house.

Water filters used to keep particulates, lead and other chemicals out of your tap water can help maintain a steady flow of clean drinking water at home. Many filters today even keep out traces of pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter drugs. As filters become more powerful and effective, that means they also become household hazardous waste at the end of their lifespan. The good news: Almost every water filter manufacturer has a filter recycling program. Be sure to visit the filter's website and download the mailing labels. Since filters need to be replaced every six months, this is an easy eco act to do just twice a year.

When it comes to choosing a reusable shopping bag, what’s the greenest of them all? Turns out the thin (and durable) bags made entirely from nylon or polyester lead the pack. These bags are convenient because they fold up into small squares and they are machine washable, keeping them sanitary. If you invest in a nylon or polyester reusable bag, be sure to keep reusing it. It takes about 11 uses before you begin recouping the environmental savings of not using disposable plastic shopping bags.