In the warmer months, it’s not uncommon to see volunteer groups collecting litter from the sides of roads or at parks as part of a beautification project. But winter is the perfect time to collect one type of debris: plastic bags. Plastic bags often get tangled in trees, and in the late spring and summer months, it can be impossible to see where they’re tangled. When the trees are bare in winter, it’s easier to untangle and remove bags. Use telescoping tools designed for trees to help dislodge bags from high-up places.

Here’s another reason to not get balloons for your next occasion: They can cause power outages. According to the nonprofit Energy Education Council, Mylar balloons are made of a special type of nylon with a thin external metal coating. When these metallic balloons are released into the air, they can get caught in power lines, and this thin metal coating can cause power outages and fires. While the Council recommends using weights to secure these balloons, here’s a better idea: Don’t get them at all.

If you live in a climate that is mild to extremely hot year-round, the color of your roof can have an impact on your home’s energy efficiency. Just like when you wear a black T-shirt vs. a white T-shirt, color can either reflect or absorb heat. A study by Florida Solar Energy found that a dark roof can make the attic of a home up to 30 degrees hotter in comparison to a white-roof attic. So choosing the lightest-color roofing tiles or painting a flat roof white can be an easy investment or choice that can help keep you cool in the long run.